Tuesday, 12 July 2022

Butterflies galore!

8th July 2022 - Warm, sunny weather and virtually no wind seemed to provide the perfect conditions for butterflies in Andy and Polly M's garden at the weekend. Overall they spotted a whopping fourteen different species, several appearing for the first time this year in the garden: Brimstone, Comma, Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large White, Small White, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Small Tortoiseshell.

Large White - dark colouration extending well down the side of the wing

Small White - single black spot, with no veining

Brimstone - with its characteristic 'hooked' wing shape

Gatekeeper - two white spots in the black eye-spot, and extensive bright orange on the upper side

Gatekeeper - two white spots in the 'eye spot'
as well as distinctive uneven row of white spots on hind wing

Meadow Brown - single white spot, and lacking the row of white spots

Meadow Brown - upperside lacking the extensive bright orange colour of the Gatekeeper

Ringlet - distinctive 'target' spot pattern

Common Blue - strong orange areas in the outside row of spots
and unbroken white fringe to the wing

Small Skipper - only the size of a 1p piece, often resting with wings closed

Small Skipper - orange ends to the underside of the antennae 
(cf Essex Skipper which have black ends)

Large Skipper - prominent broad diagonal dark stripe (sex brand) 

Comma - bright orange and with distinctive outline

Red Admiral - a very tatty specimen
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The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

  • To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
  • To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
  • To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
  • To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)