Abington Naturewatch

Saturday, 19 June 2010

Spindle Ermine moth caterpillars

Jennifer Hirsh took this photo near the river bridge (opposite the ford) on Saturday 12 June. She now knows of 4 separate spindle trees in the village that are being affected by this moth.

Monday, 14 June 2010

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Susan Hodges has been enjoying visits from a juvenile Great Spotted woodpecker, tucking in to the seed & mealworm bird block just outside her window.

Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Third River Sampling 2010 - 8th June

The river level was quite low, making access easy in several places. We sampled at the Millennium Bridge and at the ford - and one site in between by the Recreation Ground. Nothing spectacular - the usual leeches, tubifex, shrimp and insect larvae, again in relatively low numbers.

Highlight of the evening was Derek's discovery of two adult mayflies (Ephemera danica) at the edge of the river near the road bridge.

Tuesday, 25 May 2010

Snakes Alive!

George Woodley saw this grass snake on 22 May near Hall Farm... others have also reported seeing them.

Sunday, 23 May 2010

Swans on Granta Park lake

George Woodley writes:
At least two cygnets have arrived; this was taken at 11:16 on Friday 21 May. The Pen had just returned to the nest as I was about to take the picture. When I returned after lunch only the Cob was on the lake.

On Sunday afternoon, I saw no sign of the cygnets but the Cob was chasing away the geese; he seemed to tolerate the ducks.

Postscript: George writes on 31st May that all the swans have disappeared. It seems certain that once again the young have died and the adults left.

Wednesday, 19 May 2010

Second River Sampling 2010 - 13th May

Although there was still a good amount of water, our findings over five attempts were surprisingly poor, one of the poorest ever - the persistently cold winds and nights presumably the cause of this. Populations were everywhere low and diversity hardly impressive. Apart from one mayfly larva at the third sampling, specimens were again small. At the Ford the relative abundance of beetle larvae was a feature as last time, as also were the limpets on one rock.

We sampled at 3 sites: the Ford, the Football Reach and by the Millennium Bridge.

Caddisfly larva

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

Blue tits

Jim Cracknell has been watching a front door a bit closer than Downing Street...

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)