Kestrel in Granta Park

Riani Wells took this photo on 22 April 2013 at 9:00 am, in Granta Park gardens near Abington Hall.

River Sampling - 27 April

River Granta at Abington, 27 April 2013

10.30—11.30am, cool and overcast with rain showers, river level = medium-high and fast-flowing
Stretch surveyed = 30m stretch beside Cricket Meadow (as approved by Rob Mungovan)

3-minute kick-shuffle sampling technique:
(a) 1 minute in riffle area with dark green mossy weed and large stones;
(b) 1 minute in fast-flowing stony area with light green weed;
(c) 1 minute in shallower gravel area

The following were identified from the sample:

Riverfly Partnership species (abundance code B = 10-99)
Freshwater shrimps – c. 20-30, all similar size of about 1 cm (B)
Mayfly ephemeridae 0
Blue-winged olive mayfly 25 (B)
Olive mayfly 50 (B)
Flat-bodied mayfly 0
Stoneflies 0
Caddisfly (cased and caseless) 0

Other species
Brown trout 1 – c. about 7 cm long, netted at (a) above
Beetle larvae 30
Leech 1
Snails 0
Dragonfly larvae 0
Damselfly larvae 0

Red Kite over Abington

Andy M was sitting outside on April 20 having lunch and what should come over but a Red Kite!
Initially it was quite low, being closely mobbed by a Crow/Rook.
By the time he got his camera, the corvid had chased it way up...

Great Abington birds

Andy Merryweather took these pictures on 31 March
Branbling

Pheasant

Siskins

Spring has sprung in Granta Park

George has reported that plant life is finally returning!

Frogs & frogspawn

Carolyn Hannah reports that "our pond is full of frogs and loads of spawn"

Spring comes (at last) to Granta Park

George reports that this weekend he's seen a pair of Coot on the Lake and a pair of Hares racing all over the park.

He also saw a large Fox as he was leaving Sluice Wood towards the No 1 Riverside Building: it appeared from the direction of the river and, seeing the dog, continued to skirt the edge of the wood before disappearing.