Abington Naturewatch: Granta Park walk

Monday 12 April 2021

Granta Park walk

4th April 2021.

A few photos from Andy M's walk around Granta Park, when the weather was sunny, but with a bit of a cold wind. The foamy white clusters of Blackthorn were in full bloom, attracting numerous Buff-tailed Bumblebee. Underneath, the spikes of small purple flowers of Ground Ivy were appearing above the creeping foliage, interspersed with Celandine flowers still shining out from the more sunny patches. Many of the trees were starting to come into leaf, including Sycamore, Horse Chestnut and Hawthorn. A broad swathe of yellow Cowslip flowers was starting to show on the sunny meadows, alongside Daisy and the delicate pink five-petal stars of Common Storksbill. The Honeybees were very active around the hives, and a number of Dark-edged Beefly could be seen resting on prominent leaves, apparently soaking up the warm sun.

In the trees, the song of the Blackcap and Chiffchaff was prominent alongside that of the Robin and Great Tit. The few Mallard on the lake were all paired up, as were the Jackdaw and Pied Wagtail searching for insects in amongst the grass.

Blackthorn now in full flower

Buff-tailed Bumblebee in the fresh foam of Blackthorn flowers

Ground Ivy

Ground Ivy

Celandine

Starburst pattern left by beetles

- mining under the bark of a now long dead tree

Fresh green tree leaves starting to open up

Daisy

Common Storksbill and Daisy

Common Storksbill

Common Storksbill

Broad swaths of Cowslip on the entrance meadow

Cowslip

Cowslip

Cowslip

Honeybee - busy at the hive entrance

Honeybee

Dark-edge Beefly

- so named from the characteristic dark patches on the wings

Dark-edge Beefly

Male Blackcap - singing from the top of an Elder

Male Blackcap

Mallard - one of a few pairs on the lake

Female Mallard

Male Mallard - one of a few pairs on the lake

Buzzard - hunched up against he cold wind, waiting for a meal to pass underneath.

A strident male Pheasant

Blue Tit - fluffed-up against the cold

Jackdaw - a variety of delicate grey and black, with a piercing blue eye

Jackdaw

Male Pied Wagtail - with characteristic black and white plumage

Female Pied Wagtail - with grey back

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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)