Tuesday, 4 May 2021

News: Ring Ouzel on recreation ground

Thursday, 29th April 2021

Late afternoon on Thursday, Maggie and John T were lucky enough to spot a Ring Ouzel on the playing field by the river, along with a group of six Mistle Thrush. Sadly, by the time John rushed home and returned with his camera it had gone. 

Normally birds of more northern heath and moorland, or craggy cliff tops, this bird was likely a migrant travelling through. Ring Ouzel are uncommon in the east of England, with only around 20 sightings a year in Cambridgeshire, with only a handful of reports in the Abingtons since 2020!

Ring Ouzel are visually similar to Blackbirds, the male being black and the female dark brown, but both have a crescent-shaped mark on their upper breast.  In the male, this is white and very obvious, but is more muted and can be harder to spot in the female.

Male Ring Ouzel [photo Wikipedia]

Female Ring Ouzel [photo Wikipedia]




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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)