Tree Sparrows in Cambridge Road (and Buzzard)

Derek saw 3 Tree Sparrows on 21 October - here is a picture of one of them. 

He also saw a Buzzard in a dead tree at the bottom of garden on 20 October - shown with a Magpie for scale!

Observe bio-security - clean boots and equipment if you visit other rivers!

Back in July, we were advised of am outbreak of crayfish plague in Norfolk. 

The Fish Health Inspectorate at CEFAS advised that the dead white-clawed crayfish found at Sculthorpe Mill on the River Wensum recently were due to crayfish plague.

This makes it a good time to remind people of the Check-Clean-Dry guidance that is now more important than ever to protect remaining native populations in the upper Wensum, Tat and other Norfolk rivers.

This is equally, if not more, important if you visit these rivers and return here (or elsewhere).

Getting into a good practice routine of biosecurity when using watercourses for leisure or work is so important, 

World Rivers Day - celebrated at Abington Woods on 24 September

Deborah set up some displays and activities, aimed mostly at her young customers, at Abington Woods. There are some photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskEaCter.

Wasps around!

Steve Roughley took this picture of holes on the footpath to the A11 footbridge, a couple of weeks ago. He thinks they are the holes of digger wasps, some of which still seem to be active.  He has seen the odd wasp entering or leaving over the summer but not caught one on camera.

There is also a hole on the river bank near the Millennium footbridge, which was in use by wasps today (3 October).

Mushrooms around!

George saw these in Granta Park at the weekend - 1-2 October.

I've also seen them around in other places nearby.

Moths in Church Lane

Last night David set up his moth trap next door to Little Abington church, so this morning (1st October) we opened it up to see our visitors.

There was a reasonable selection of mostly 'little brown' moths and one or two other insects!

Thanks for Mike and Lois Bull for the tentative identifications below - all Noctuids, the largest family of moths:

Smoky Wainscot

Smoky Wainscot

Barred Chestnut

Bordered Gothic

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Barred Chestnut 

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Barred Chestnut 

Barred Chestnut 

Barred Chestnut 

Neglected Rustic

Neglected Rustic

Thanks to Graham, our host: