Abington Naturewatch

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Silver Y moth

This photo of a Silver Y moth (Autographa gamma) was taken by Amanda Hutchings.

Friday, 7 September 2012

Grass Snake eating Toad

Terry Tinkler of Church Close took these photos on 17 August in a High Street garden in Great Abington.

Common Blue

Jennifer too this photo of a Common Blue on the Roman Road on Little Abington section, east of Worsted Lodge, on 14th August. She has as yet seen no Chalkhill Blues on our side of the A11!

Tuesday, 14 August 2012

Butterflies on the Roman Road

Jennifer led a butterfly and flower outing on the morning of Saturday 11 August.

On 14th August, she saw Common Blue butterflies up there:

Whiteletter Hairstreak on Cambridge Road

Derek has, for the third year running, seen - and this time photographed - a Whiteletter Hairstreak in his garden on 12th August. It was feeding for some time on Golden Rod.

Tuesday, 7 August 2012

The Nobes family had a rather exciting visitor on the night of 6 August -- a Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri).

Anne writes: The internet tells me that this is our largest resident hawk-moth and is widespread across southern Britain.

Photo by Jenny Nobes (Anne's fingers for scale!).

Thursday, 2 August 2012

Bourn Bridge Road Verges, study walk, 31 July 2012

Patrick reports:

A good turn-out of 15 members. The bad effect of the mid-season mowing on the non-PRV sections was noted. Lady’s Bedstraw as well as the Campions were past their best but Greater Knapweed and Scabious were still at peak.

These plants were seen either then or that morning:

MAJOR FAMILIES

Composites
Common Ragwort
Mugwort
Hoary Ragwort
Milfoil (Yarrow)
Common Knapweed
Creeping Thistle
Greater Knapweed
Scentless Mayweed
Canadian Fleabane

Peaflowers
Restharrow
Hop Trefoil

Crucifers
Hedge Mustard
Shepherd’s Purse

Mints
Black Horehound
Wild Basil

‘Scrophs’
Toadflax

Rose family
Blackthorn
Hawthorn
Dog Rose
Bramble

Umbellifers
Hogweed
Hemlock
Hedge Parsley

Campion family
Bladder Campion
White Campion

OTHER FAMILIES
Field Scabious (Teasel family)
Poppy (Poppy family)
Hedge Bedstraw (Bedstraw family)
Field Bindweed (Convolvulus family)
Lady’s Bedstraw (Bedstraw family)
Great Bindweed (Convolvulus family)
Broad-leaved Dock (Dock family)
Common Mallow (Mallow family)
Curled Dock (Dock family)
Perforate St John’s Wort (SJW family)
Stinging Nettle (Nettle family)
Knapweed Broomrape (Broomrape family)
Crow Garlic (Lily family)
Mignonette (Mignonette family)

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)