Wednesday 30 March 2016

Granta Park birdlife in March

Granta Park Gym Manager Jeremy took some lovely photos last Friday on and around the lake.

Green Woodpecker

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Sparrowhawk

Kestrel

Photographs by Jeremy Smith Photography


Sunday 27 March 2016

Jay in the High Street

Jennifer took this photo of a Jay in her garden on Easter Sunday 27th March:


Saturday 26 March 2016

Wildlife Trust Local Group talk - Wednesday 30th March

This month's Cambridge Wildlife Trust Local Group talk will take place next week on Wednesday the 30th of  March at 7.30pm.

The session is by Guy Belcher, the Cambridge City Council Biodiversity Officer, who will talk about Cambridge Local Nature Reserves and the ecological pressures and opportunities that growth is bringing to the City.

For more information, see:
http://www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2016/03/30/cambridge-local-nature-reserves?instance=0

As usual, the talk will take place at St John the Evangelist Church Hall on Hills Road.

Entrance is £2.50

Friday 25 March 2016

Great Crested Grebes on Granta Park Lake

David F took these pictures of the grebes on GP lake on Good Friday morning, 25th March.





Monday 21 March 2016

Moorhen in West Field!

Peter Dawson had a visit from a Moorhen nearly every day this week (mid March). It spends quite a lot of time under the seed feeders but runs away when he tries to get a photo from the kitchen window... eventually he managed to get these:



On one occasion there were also a Jay, Goldfinch and Long Tailed Tits.

Monday 14 March 2016

Visit to RSPB Ouse Washes – 12.3.2016

Derek reports that seven members were able to take part. They had a very good morning, as can be seen from the (alphabetical) list of species below:

Blackheaded Gull
Blue Tit
Brambling
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Collared Dove
Coot
Cormorant
Dunnock
Gadwall
Goldfinch
Great Crested Grebe
Great Spotted Woodpecker (H)
Great Tit
House Sparrow
Kestrel
Lesser Redpoll
Little Egret
Longtailed Tit
Mallard
Marsh Harrier
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Pintail
Pochard
Redwing
Reed Bunting
Robin
Song Thrush
Starling
Teal
Tree Sparrow
Tufted Duck
Wigeon
Woodcock
Woodpigeon
Wren

     (H) indicates that it was heard only

It was good to see Tree Sparrow, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting and Brambling from the Visitor Centre and a variety of waterfowl from the hides overlooking the flood plain.

David took some photos of the scenery!







Tree Sparrows were in abundance around the Visitor Centre and Andy took a picture or two!





Tree Sparrows

Jennifer took photos of water fowl: 

Black headed Gull
[winter plumage - just a dark spot behind eye]
Great Crested Grebe 
Pair of Mallard
Wigeon
Pair of Tufted Duck
and Andy took this one:

Male Teal

Tuesday 8 March 2016

Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goldfinch on High Street

Jennifer took these photos of a Woodpecker and a Goldfinch in her garden.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a male - note the red spot on back of his head.

Great Spotted Woodpecker
Goldfinch
Goldfinch


Saturday 5 March 2016

Ladybirds near the Cricket Ground

While clearing scrub, brambles and rubbish on the river bank, we found several native ladybirds:




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)