Trip to WWT Welney

Visit to WWT Welney - Sunday 4th March 2017

Eight Abington Naturewatch members attended the trip to WWT Welney on the morning of 4th March 2017.  The weather was kind, being dry with a little sunshine, and thirty-nine bird species were seen.  Among the highlights were a Great White Egret, a large flock of Golden Plover seen on Lady Fen, as well as the Whooper Swan and a flock of Black-tailed Godwit seen from the main observatory.

Thanks go to Derek for organising, and to David and Jennifer for the photographs.

 Whooper Swans (DF)

Black-tailed Godwit (DF)

Male Wigeon (DF)

Great White Egret (JH)

 Pochard (DF)

 Male Gadwall (DF)

Egyptian Goose (DF) 

Common Earthball fungus

Andy found what appeared to be small spherical fungi under some yew trees in Granta Park. About 3 to 5cm across, and with a somewhat scaly appearance, he believes these are probably the fruiting bodies of the Common Earthball fungus (Scleroderma spp).  Apparently, the light-brown scaly fruiting bodies appear in late autumn/early winter and rupture to release the spores - the empty cases persisting for some months afterwards.

Warm sun brings out an early Peacock butterfly

The warm sun last Friday (3rd Feb) brought out this splendid Peacock butterfly, seen sunning itself by Andy whilst walking around Lagden's Grove on Granta Park. The sun also opened the profusion of snowdrop and catkin flowers, which seemed to have been primed, ready to go, for some weeks.

Birds around the village - Robin & Bullfinch

Peter took this photo of a Robin on 22nd January:

and Jennifer took this one of a Bullfinch on 6th February

Blackcap on bird feeder

This male Blackcap was seen on the bird-feeders in Andy's garden today - the first one to visit his garden this winter - possibly pushed into looking for food there due to the cold-snap.

Trees in Sluice Wood

In mid-December, three volunteers cleared some frees and debris from the river in Sluice Wood.
In early January, a much larger tree came down over the river. taking some other bits with it - and, by 13th Jan, debris was collecting behind it:

Several people commented... so David arranged a work party on 16th Jan to clear it, with permission from the landowner. The river is once again clear!

Hypholoma toadstools on Granta Park

Andy M saw these toadstools on a rotting oak tree stump near the river on Granta Park,  The caps were around 3-5 cm across, and he believes them to be one of the Hypholoma genus, possibly the so-called 'Brick-Tuft' toadstool (H. sublateritium), or maybe the 'Sulphur Tuft' (H. fasciculare).