Abington Naturewatch: A few spring birds from the Old Railway Cutting

Wednesday 10 May 2023

A few spring birds from the Old Railway Cutting

10th May 2023 - the Old Railway Cutting was awash with birdsong this morning, with the newly arrived warblers, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat all noisily vying for attention. Alongside, the somehow less frantic singing of the resident species, like the Song Thrush, Robin, Wren, Dunnock and Blue Tit, already well down their nesting roads, and the distantly glimpsed patches of colour of a male Bullfinch and a female Yellowhammer. Overhead, adding to the almost ceaseless song of the Skylark, the twittering of a couple of Swallow and the screams of two Swift passing over completed this idyllic rural spring scene.

Male Common Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat, perched high, singing

Chiffchaff - alert, and ready to defend his patch ...

... and flying straight at me!

Blue Tit, also somewhat agitated, with crest raised

Blue Tit

Dunnock, singing on a prominent old Hemlock stem

Male Bullfinch, quietly in the background

Female Yellowhammer

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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)