Abington Naturewatch: Black Redstart

Tuesday, 3 May 2022

Black Redstart

18th April 2022 - a female Black Redstart was spotted by Andy M along North Road, perching on a row of fence posts, and making brief sorties out to catch insects before returning to the posts, often showing it's characteristic rusty-orange tail flash.

This relatively scarce robin-sized bird can be seen, rarely, in the UK all year round. Small numbers are resident, with as few as 20-50 pairs breeding in the UK (largely in the south-east), so most sightings are of passage migrants passing through from the Mediterranean during spring and autumn. Generally, there are only around ten sightings in Cambridgeshire each year.

Reported only twice before in the Abingtons; in November 2010, and on 20th April 2016.

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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)