Abington Naturewatch

Thursday, 16 July 2026

Buzzard keeping a lookout!

29th June 2026 - Derek T spotted with Buzzard perching on the top of his greenhouse, no doubt keeping a look out for anything interesting moving around in the veg patch or field beyond!

Badger, caught on a security-cam

26th June 2026 - Alan C sent this clip from a neighbour's security camera, clearly showing a Badger sneaking around the edge of the garden at about 11:30.

Note - click central arrow icon two times to watch video

Birds, on and above Granta Park water

21st June 2026 - there have been quite a few Mandarin Duck around the lake and river this year, and Andy M spotted these two 'female-type' individuals - meaning they could be adult females or older young from this year, as their plumage is very similar. There was also a juvenile Moorhen, looking a bit 'gawky teenager' when compared to the sleek plumage of the adults. In the small balancing pools, a single Ruddy Shelduck female was seen, possibly from the pair seen there earlier in the year. Above them all, floated an ever-impressive Red Kite.

Mandarin Duck, female-type

Moorhen, juvenile

Ruddy Shelduck, female

Red Kite

Butterflies on Granta Park

21st June 2026 - there have been good numbers of Marbled White around this year, and on Granta Park was no exception. Nicely-coloured Green-veined White were also around in the woods, drinking from areas of damp moss, whilst on the meadow, both Meadow Brown and Small Skipper were seen - the latter having orange tips to the undersides to the antennae, whereas the very similar Essex Skipper has dark tips.

Marbled White

Green-veined White

Meadow Brown

Small Skipper

Small Skipper - showing orange underside of antennae tips

Small Skipper

Grey Wagtail by the sluice

21st June 2026 - by the sluice, the bed of the river has dried up to be just mud at the moment, and this was the happy hunting ground for a lovely Grey Wagtail. Andy M.

Dragons and Damsels - static ones!

21st June 2026 - as well as the restless Emperor Dragonfly (see previous post), Andy M also saw several other species of dragonfly and damselfly. Around the edges of the lakes, perched on the stone surrounds were several Black-tailed Skimmer (similar in colour to the Broad-bodied Chaser, but having a longer, more pointed abdomen and lacking the dark wing-bases).

In the reeds around the lake, there were Four-spotted Chaser, having two wing spots per wing, and Common Blue Damselfly, and Blue-tailed Damselfly (the latter having a basically dark abdomen with a blue tip, and on the lily pads were Red-eyed Damselfly (which unsurprisingly have red eyes!).

Finally, over the other side of the site, along the river in which many reeds are growing at the moment, there were Banded Demoiselle - the males being metallic blue with a dark blue 'thumb-print' on the wing, and the females being metallic green. A few mating pairs were seen joining up in tandem there too.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Four-spotted Chaser

Common Blue Damselfly, male

Blue-tailed Damselfly, male

Red-eyed Damselfly

Banded Demoiselle, male

Banded Demoiselle, female

Banded Demoiselle, mating pair

Emperor Dragonfly - in flight

21st June 2026 - a couple of the largest UK dragonfly, the Emperor Dragonfly, were patrolling back and forth along the side of Granta Park lake, looking for food (which they catch and eat on the wing) and warding off any intruders. They just don't stop, and they're fast!

Frustrating if you're trying to get a nice photo of them. So just for fun, Andy M tried his luck at getting a reasonable photo of them in flight! After throwing away many, many attempts, you can be the judge as to whether or not he succeeded!

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)