Abington Naturewatch

Monday, 2 March 2015

Rivercare & Beachcare Winter Conference 2015

Robin and Peter attended a one day conference at Catton Park in Norwich, hosted by Andrew Walters, Rivercare Project Manager and Robert Martyr, Rivercare Officer.

We were treated to an update on all things RiverCare and BeachCare, notably their campaigns; spreading the message using social media; Biodiversity work for river habitats; a new phone app for recording data, reporting sightings and incidents; and Non-native species. We heard about a project by the Friends of Tove Wetland Pocket Park and told delegates about our Shoal project. There was time for discussion of problems and opportunities.

Saturday, 28 February 2015

Birdwatch Visit to Fen Drayton Lakes - 28th February 2015

Twelve of us travelled on the Guided Busway 09:42 Bus from Trumpington to Fen Drayton Lakes, where we were met by RSPB Volunteer Guide John Harding. The weather was dry if windy and the ground was rather muddy in places. We walked north towards the old ferry, around Ferry Lagoon and back along the guided busway path.

We saw a good selection of water birds, as well as more common birds. Highlights of the trip were seeing both Glossy Ibis and Redcrested Pochard.

Derek recorded the following species:

Blackbird

Blackheaded Gull

Blue Tit

Bullfinch
Canada Goose

Carrion Crow

Chaffinch

Common Gull

Coot

Cormorant

Gadwall

Glossy Ibis

Goldeneye

Great Crested Grebe

Great Tit

Grey Heron

Greylag Goose

Jackdaw

Lapwing

Lesser Blackbacked Gull

Little Egret

Magpie

Mallard

Moorhen

Mute Swan

Oystercatcher

Pochard

Redcrested Pochard

Shelduck

Shoveler

Sparrowhawk

Teal

Tufted Duck

Wigeon

Woodpigeon

35 species in all.

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Pam Parris took this photo of a woodpecker on the Silver Birch tree in their garden about two weeks ago.

Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Spring-time in Sluice Wood

Jennifer saw snowdrops and aconites in Sluice Wood on 8th February.

Wednesday, 4 February 2015

Sluice Wood in the Snow

Sluice Wood looked pretty with a light covering of snow on the morning of 3 February. The debris washed down on to the old Bottomer sluices (a listed building) by recent heavy rain is obvious in the photo.

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

RSPB Garden Birdwatch in Abington - 24-25 January 2015

Derek reports that 14 Abington Naturewatch members, including Class 1 at the school, reported their sightings to him, which he has analysed as follows:

14 records were received including one from Class 1 at the school and 33 species were recorded.

In descending order they were:

14 records

Blue Tit

Blackbird

Robin

13 records

Great Tit

11 records

Chaffinch

10 records

Collared Dove

Dunnock

9 records

Longtailed Tit

Goldfinch

Woodpigeon

8 records

Magpie

Coal Tit

6 records

House Sparrow

5 Records

Starling

Greenfinch

4 records

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Wren

3 records

Carrion Crow

Fieldfare

Jackdaw

2 records

Jay

Song Thrush

Blackheaded Gull

Pheasant

Pied wagtail

1 record

Green Woodpecker Bullfinch

Kestrel Linnet

Redwing Skylark

Yellowhammer

Redlegged Partridge

DLT

4.2.2015 (v2)

Saturday, 31 January 2015

Fungus on Recreation Ground

We spotted this today (31 January) while doing our monthly litter-pick along the river and environs. It is on one of the small trees between the Play Equipment and the Cricket Ground.

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)