Thursday, 21 April 2011
Monday, 18 April 2011
River Sampling 16th April 2011
Our first sampling session was held on Saturday morning at the ford beside the road bridge in the middle of the village; all 3 samples were taken there. Water level was quite high. Each sample obtained in net using 30-second kick-shuffle technique
Sample 1, mainly gravel bottom with weed and decaying leaf detritus
1 demoiselle damselfly nymph (see photo)
1 caseless caddis fly larva -- distinctively yellowy-green (see photo)
1 freshwater hoglouse (see photo)
1 leech
c. 10 freshwater shrimps, various sizes
c. 5 small hairworms
1 flatworm (grey)
Various other small nymphs -- too small for easy identification
Sample 2, rocky bottom, less weed than sample 1
No nymphs
1 very long hairworm (c. 150mm -- see photo)
Lots of small, thin red hairworms
c. 10 shrimps
Tiny watermites
Sample 3, gravel/sandy bottom, closer to bridge
1 small fish (c. 3 cm long -- see photo). Possibly a minnow or baby trout.
1 burrowing mayfly nymph, Ephemera vulgata (c. 2 cm long -- see photo)
Various other small nymphs -- too small for easy identification
No shrimps
A shoal of tiny fish was seen close to bridge, probably minnows.
On large submerged stones removed from river for inspection, ramshorn snails and freshwater limpets observed.
Demoiselle damselfly nymph
Caddis fly larva (?)
Hairworm (c. 150mm)
Burrowing mayfly nymph (bottom right) + freshwater hoglouse (top left)
Young minnow + freshwater shrimp near its tail
Sample 1, mainly gravel bottom with weed and decaying leaf detritus
1 demoiselle damselfly nymph (see photo)
1 caseless caddis fly larva -- distinctively yellowy-green (see photo)
1 freshwater hoglouse (see photo)
1 leech
c. 10 freshwater shrimps, various sizes
c. 5 small hairworms
1 flatworm (grey)
Various other small nymphs -- too small for easy identification
Sample 2, rocky bottom, less weed than sample 1
No nymphs
1 very long hairworm (c. 150mm -- see photo)
Lots of small, thin red hairworms
c. 10 shrimps
Tiny watermites
Sample 3, gravel/sandy bottom, closer to bridge
1 small fish (c. 3 cm long -- see photo). Possibly a minnow or baby trout.
1 burrowing mayfly nymph, Ephemera vulgata (c. 2 cm long -- see photo)
Various other small nymphs -- too small for easy identification
No shrimps
A shoal of tiny fish was seen close to bridge, probably minnows.
On large submerged stones removed from river for inspection, ramshorn snails and freshwater limpets observed.
Demoiselle damselfly nymph
Caddis fly larva (?)
Hairworm (c. 150mm)
Burrowing mayfly nymph (bottom right) + freshwater hoglouse (top left)
Young minnow + freshwater shrimp near its tailWednesday, 13 April 2011
Guided walk along the Mel
Cam Valley Forum has invited us to a guided walk along part of the river Mel from Melbourn to Meldreth on Tuesday 24 May.
Steve Hawkins, chair of the River Mel Restoration Group, has kindly agreed to lead the walk and talk about the improvements that have been carried out by volunteers from Meldreth and Melbourn. We will start from the Melbourn village car park at 6.30pm and end at the British Queen pub in Meldreth.
If you are coming from Cambridge along the A10 you should take the first turning into Melbourn, and follow the road into the village where the car park will be on your left, just past the Elm Tree pub and behind the bus stop.
This is quite a short walk of about a mile and a half, but Cam Valley Forum will arrange a lift back to the car park in Melbourn for those who would like it. In order to organise the lifts it would be helpful if you would let Peter Brunning know by Sunday 15 May if you are hoping to come - he can then advise CVF.
Steve Hawkins, chair of the River Mel Restoration Group, has kindly agreed to lead the walk and talk about the improvements that have been carried out by volunteers from Meldreth and Melbourn. We will start from the Melbourn village car park at 6.30pm and end at the British Queen pub in Meldreth.
If you are coming from Cambridge along the A10 you should take the first turning into Melbourn, and follow the road into the village where the car park will be on your left, just past the Elm Tree pub and behind the bus stop.
This is quite a short walk of about a mile and a half, but Cam Valley Forum will arrange a lift back to the car park in Melbourn for those who would like it. In order to organise the lifts it would be helpful if you would let Peter Brunning know by Sunday 15 May if you are hoping to come - he can then advise CVF.
Saturday, 2 April 2011
News from Granta Park Lake
George reported on Saturday 2nd April that the swans were still in control of the lake ("No fly zone" in operation) but not yet on the nest - but they left a sentry near the nest site.
Two days later, a swan was sitting on the nest!
Spring is in the air and there's a wonderful tree in full bloom:
Two days later, a swan was sitting on the nest!
Spring is in the air and there's a wonderful tree in full bloom:
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Naturewatch Programme - April to July 2011
These details are provisional and will be updated from time to time. Members will be reminded and details of time confirmed about a week before the event.
April
Sat 16th 9.15am - River Sampling
May
Sat 7th late afternoon - Native Bees (Talk and walk)
Tues 24th evening – Beech Wood
Sat/Sun 28/29th weekend - Local Birdwatch
June
Thurs 9th evening - River Sampling
Sat 11th - RSPB Lakenheath - Plant Study walk
Sat 18th - Fleam Dyke 1 - Plant Study walk
Fri 24th - Haslingfield
July
Sat 2nd – Fleam Dyke 2 - Plant Study walk
(Thurs 7th July evening - Project Team meeting)
Sat 16th - Welney Bird Outing
Fri 22nd - Chalky Road 1 - Plant Study walk
Ideas for autumn programme – dates to be confirmed
August
Upland Farm - Plant Study Walk
September/October
Fungus Foray
River sampling 3
October
Project Team Meeting, Members Meeting
Any other ideas for the Naturewatch programme gratefully received.
April
Sat 16th 9.15am - River Sampling
May
Sat 7th late afternoon - Native Bees (Talk and walk)
Tues 24th evening – Beech Wood
Sat/Sun 28/29th weekend - Local Birdwatch
June
Thurs 9th evening - River Sampling
Sat 11th - RSPB Lakenheath - Plant Study walk
Sat 18th - Fleam Dyke 1 - Plant Study walk
Fri 24th - Haslingfield
July
Sat 2nd – Fleam Dyke 2 - Plant Study walk
(Thurs 7th July evening - Project Team meeting)
Sat 16th - Welney Bird Outing
Fri 22nd - Chalky Road 1 - Plant Study walk
Ideas for autumn programme – dates to be confirmed
August
Upland Farm - Plant Study Walk
September/October
Fungus Foray
River sampling 3
October
Project Team Meeting, Members Meeting
Any other ideas for the Naturewatch programme gratefully received.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
News from Granta Park Lake
Our local correspondent, George Woodley, reports:
Grey Lag Geese at Granta Park Lake on 19th March
"The swans are nesting and the battle for the lake has started this morning with five Canada Geese driven off in the usual spectacular fashion."
Friday, 4 March 2011
Fungi on Cambridge Road
Sally Turnidge found Flammulina veluptipes (Velvet Shank) in their garden today:
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