Abington Naturewatch

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Brambling and Lesser Redpoll

These pictures are from Andrew Merryweather of Lewis Crescent

Monday, 14 January 2013

Redpoll

A picture taken by Carolyn Hannah on 12 January

Saturday, 1 December 2012

A day in the life...

Anne and Ross have a group of three Magpie Inkcaps (Coprinus picaceus) in damp leaf litter in their garden. They appear every year in October or November (they seem to be quite late this year).

The 3 pics show how much they change over 3 successive days (Day 3 was 30 Nov) -- the end stage is when the gills blacken and liquefy (hence the 'ink' in the name).

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Little Egret visits River Granta

Derek and Jennifer both saw a Little Egret in the river downstream of the Millennium Bridge on the morning of 15 November. Neither had a camera to hand but Jennifer did have her phone:

Derek also reports that he has seen a Kestrel hovering above the field between Church Lane and Cambridge Road several times recently.

He asks us to keep reports coming in and would particularly like to hear about winter visitors: Redwings, Fieldfares, Siskins, Bramblings...

Friday, 19 October 2012

Heron

This picture of a Heron was taken by Carolyn Hannah in Linton Road on 10th October:

Sunday, 30 September 2012

Linton Road Stubble Field - 29 September

Pat Daunt led a walk around the field on Linton Road to view the flora growing in the stubble.

Looking East from a point close to the allotments
(towards Hildersham parish)

There was a good display of poppies immediately obvious and many other fine specimens apparent on a closer look. Among them, there were those shown below:

Field Madder

Fools Parsley

Speedwell and Scarlet Pimpernel

Dwarf Spurge

Black Bindweed

Field Poppy (dark)

Black Nightshade

Round-leaved Fluellen

Sharp-leaved Fluellen

Dense-flowered Fumitory

Field Pansy

Field Poppy

Cut-leaved Deadnettle

Night-flowering Catchfly

Field Poppy (pink)

Other plants seen included:
- Field Madder, one only seen, in flower.
- Groundsel, lots of it.
- Common Chickweed, occasional.
- Canadian Fleabane, plenty, scattered, v. variable.
- Scentless Mayweed, v. abundant, some flowers exceptionally large.
- Field Sowthistle, scattered, flowers impressive.

Saturday, 22 September 2012

Red Admiral in the High Street

George took this fine picture of a Red Admiral, one of several by the church notice board on the High Street, while taking a dog for a walk on the afternoon of 21 September.

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)