IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THIS BLOG

The Abington NatureWatch Blog was started around 20 years ago in 2007, and over that period has accumulated over 1700 posts. All the photos and observations have been submitted by Abington NatureWatch members over that period, and provide an interesting record of the plants, animals, birds, bugs and environment of Little Abington and Great Abington in Cambridgeshire.

However, there is a downside. The amount of time needed to curate, prepare and post the photos and commentary is not inconsiderable, and whilst the ANW Team feel the Blog is of value, their time and effort is only really worth it if people out there are regularly viewing and enjoying what they see. 

So, please, if you are a regular viewer of the Abington NatureWatch Blog, and enjoy what you find here, please add a short word or two of encouragement to the 'Comments' section at the bottom of those posts you enjoyed. 

If you wish to remain anonymous, that's fine - it would just be good to know you're out there and liking what you see.  Thank you!

Best wishes, and we hope you're enjoying the show!!

The ANW Team

Interesting Fungi

22nd October 2026 - with autumn well underway, Gill S found these rather wonderful fungi had suddenly appeared in her garden. Whilst hard to identify exactly, they may a species of Tuft fungus (Hypholoma), possibly Conifer Tuft or the highly toxic Sulphur Tuft.

Song Thrush

16th October 2026 - John T saw this Song Thrush in his garden and managed to get a photo through the window.

Evidence of Otter?

11th October 2026 - whilst walking along the river in Granta Park, early one morning, Andy M came across the dismembered remains of a large Signal Crayfish. The remains were obviously very fresh, with the head, claws and a few scattered legs on the bank close to the river edge, but what must have been a fairly chunky body was missing. It seems unlikely that this creature found its way onto the bank by itself, and the size of it - probably 15-20cm when whole - would be too large for a bird like a Grey Heron, so this may well suggest it was caught by an Otter, and brought onto the bank to be eaten?

A few birds around Granta Park

11th October 2026 - during his walk around Granta Park, Andy M spotted some rather nice birds and got a few photos; Long-tailed Tit in Lagden's Grove, a Grey Heron in the old now fallen Oak on Bancroft Meadow, a Red Kite patrolling overhead, and a very dapper Grey Wagtail feeding in the shallow 'puddles' in the lakes around Illumina. He also spotted (but failed to photograph) a Woodcock as it flushed from some thick grass along the boundary.

Long-tailed Tit

Grey Heron

Red Kite

Grey Wagtail

Common Fleabane - a good indicator

5th October 2026 -  Andy M spotted a few Common Fleabane in flower in the field adjacent to the river, perhaps a little later in the year than usual, but this summer has been unusual. This species grows in damp, alkaline meadows and is considered a universal indicator of good, high-value ancient hay meadows!

Sun filtering through the woods

5th October 2026 - the woods in Lagden's Grove looking lovely in the (still quite warm) autumn sun when Andy M was walking through.

Progress on the Chalk Streams Project

5th October 2026 - good progress was being made this week on the improvements to the River Granta, as part of Greater Cambridge Chalk Streams Project (GCCSP). 

Under the expert eye of the Wildlife Trust, a number of 'river deflectors' have been added into the river bed at strategic points. These are basically a mass of branches held in place by posts and hemp rope, and are designed to gradually capture silt, allowing plants to start growing, eventually reforming some of the river banks. As their name suggests, these deflectors funnel the water flow at certain points to increase the flow, cleaning the gravel river bottom and improving oxygen for wildlife. Monthly water monitoring will continue in order to quantify the positive effect these deflectors will have. Andy M and David F took a few photos showing progress around the ford. 

A 'new 'walkway' surface has also been added along the river, and wild flower areas will be planned in due course.

Deflectors near the ford - work in progress, with branches not yet tied down

Completed deflector downstream of road bridge

New walkway surface

Still not much water around

5th October 2026 - despite the hot summer being something of a distant memory now, and the recent rain we have had, the water level in both the River Granta and the main lake on Granta Park were still very low.     Andy M.

Main lake, Granta Park - the gravel shoal is normally a good 30cm underwater

River Granta alongside the Rec, the water barely covering half the river bed

River Granta near the Millennium Bridge - note the exposed gravel shoal

In the bath together

3rd October 2026 - John T has a good number of bird species visit his garden, but spotted something a bit more unusual - a Chiffchaff and a Blue Tit apparently happily sharing a bath together!

Small Tortoiseshell - something special of late

1st October 2026 - John W saw this Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in his garden. Whilst something of a less common species this year, what made this all the more remarkable was that it was his first sighting of this species in his garden this year!