Abington Naturewatch: December 2022

Thursday, 22 December 2022

Green Woodpecker

21st December 2022 - John T had an unusual visitor to his garden lawn a couple of days ago. It had been a while since a Green Woodpecker had been in the garden, the Great Spotted Woodpecker being much more commonly seen there. This male Green Woodpecker (having a red patch below the eye, but otherwise similar to the female) spent a while probing the lawn, and giving John the chance for a couple of lovely photos. The yellow-green streak at the base of the back was quite striking.

Tuesday, 20 December 2022

Melting snow results in high water level in the river

19th December 2022 - both Derek T and Andy M noted that the rapid snow melt overnight on Sunday (18th) has resulted in a very high water level in the river - not quite over the top, but getting close!

High water at the Millennium Bridge [Andy M]

Looking downstream from the Millennium Bridge [Andy M]

High water level at the Millennium Bridge [Derek T]

More unusual Garden Birds seen in the cold snap

18 December 2022 - John and Maggie T noted that the recent cold snap drew a lot more birds into their garden, on the feeders and on seed placed on the walls near the house. A male Blackcap was spotted enjoying some seed on the wall, and both a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Coal Tit were on the feeder at the same time - not something they had seen before.

Male Blackcap

Coal Tit and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker

Friday, 16 December 2022

Snowy scenes around Great Abington

15th December 2022 - and finally, the sun came out to illuminate the snow! Andy M took some snow scenes on his walk around the village.

Tuesday, 13 December 2022

Christmassy Robins

13th December 2022 - a few wintery Robin in the garden, as if straight from a Christmas card. Andy M

Our Garden Birds

13th December 2022 - In this cold, snowy weather the food we put out for the birds in our gardens really boosts their chances of survival. So please feed our wild birds if you are able to, and particularly during the frosty weather put out a dish of fresh warm water each day too, for the birds to drink and bathe in.

A few birds visiting Andy M's garden feeders recently.

Goldfinch feeding on sunflower hearts

Robin

Blue Tit

Goldfinch

Blackbird feeding on Holly Berries

A charm of Goldfinch

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)