Abington Naturewatch

Sunday, 17 March 2013

Abington Naturewatch Sector Coordinators

Programme - David Farrant
Membership - June Waring
Rivercare - Peter Brunning
Birds - Derek Turnidge
Amphibians & Reptiles - Anne Dunbar-Nobes
Insects - Jennifer Hirsh
Mammals - Gill Smith
Plants - Pat Daunt
School Liaison - Robin Harman

For contact details, please refer to the Record or email Peter Brunning (see below)

Saturday, 16 March 2013

Summer 2013 Programme

At the Naturewatch meeting today, we published a draft programme

River Sampling – meet at the River Bridge (by the Ford)
Sat 27th April 10:30
Tues 25th June (was ~~Weds 26th June~~) – evening
Sat 31st August 10:30
Advance warning – Saturday 28th Sep – Activity day to mark World Rivers Day **
"World Rivers Day is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of September"

Plant Study walks
Tues 18th June – Hildersham Woods
Weds 10th July – Granta Park
(with insects) Sat 27th July – Fleam Dyke
we also hope to arrange a Walk on Franklins Farm in Aug/Sept

Bird Activities
Sat/Sun 25/26th May – Local Birdwatch
Sat 1st June – RSPB Lakenheath

Insects
Sat 6th July – Paxton Pits
(with Plants) Aug 10th – Roman Road **
2 Moth nights – to be confirmed, subject to suitable weather

** activities involving children

All the above are subject to confirmation.
Further details will be advised by email nearer the time.

Siskins

Following the mention of Siskins at the Naturewatch meeting this morning, Andy Merryweather has provided these pictures:

Female Siskin

Male Siskin

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Brambling and Lesser Redpoll

These pictures are from Andrew Merryweather of Lewis Crescent

Monday, 14 January 2013

Redpoll

A picture taken by Carolyn Hannah on 12 January

Saturday, 1 December 2012

A day in the life...

Anne and Ross have a group of three Magpie Inkcaps (Coprinus picaceus) in damp leaf litter in their garden. They appear every year in October or November (they seem to be quite late this year).

The 3 pics show how much they change over 3 successive days (Day 3 was 30 Nov) -- the end stage is when the gills blacken and liquefy (hence the 'ink' in the name).

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Little Egret visits River Granta

Derek and Jennifer both saw a Little Egret in the river downstream of the Millennium Bridge on the morning of 15 November. Neither had a camera to hand but Jennifer did have her phone:

Derek also reports that he has seen a Kestrel hovering above the field between Church Lane and Cambridge Road several times recently.

He asks us to keep reports coming in and would particularly like to hear about winter visitors: Redwings, Fieldfares, Siskins, Bramblings...

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)