Abington Naturewatch

Monday, 27 June 2022

Along the Protected Road Verge

19th June 2022 - David F noted a number of different flower species starting to come into flower along the Protected Road Verge (PRV) recently - in particular Hedge Bedstraw, Greater Knapweed and Scabious, as well as the plant parasite Knapweed Broomrape. He also spotted Mullein nearby along the Old Coach Track, and a Marbled White butterfly, as well as Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown.

Greater Knapweed

Knapweed Broomrape

Mullein

Marbled White

Saturday, 25 June 2022

Sally Turnidge

Friday, 17 June 2022

Large Skipper and Marbled White

17th June 2022 - Andy and Polly M have seen a couple of different butterflies in their Great Abington garden this week, including a couple of Large Skipper, and a Marbled White.

Male Large Skipper - note the prominent dark stripe on the wing

Male Large Skipper

Large Skipper

Marbled White

Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Azure Damselfly

11th June 2022 - female Azure Damselfly, resting in dappled shade along the Old Railway Cutting. With many thanks to Darren B for help with the identification - the configuration of markings on the thorax being the key pointers - Andy M.

Flowers in abundance

11th June 2022 - flowers in abundance along the Old Railway Cutting - Andy M

Mallow

A lovely foam of Cow Parsley

Homing in on a Cow Parsley landing pad

Black Medick

Nodding Thistle

Common St John's Wort

Common or Field Poppy

Buttercup

Lucerne

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Oxeye Daisy

Scabious

Young birds out and about

11th June 2022 - there were small families of young Blue Tit and young Blackcap foraging along the Old Railway Cutting this weekend. Andy M.

Young Blue Tit

Young Blackcap feeding in the Elder

Young Blackcap in the Elder

Butterflies on a Bramble-patch

11th June 2022 - the large patches of Bramble are currently in flower, and were proving to be something of a honey-pot for the local butterflies. Andy M counted nine different species there or nearby, including at least 20-25 Small Tortoiseshell and quite a few Large Skipper.

Painted Lady

Meadow Brown

Male Large Skipper - with the obvious black 'sex-brand'

or stripe on the upper wing, and blotchy-patterned underwing

Comma, and Large Skipper

Large Skipper and White-tailed Bumblebee

Small Tortoiseshell were particularly numerous on the bramble

Small Tortoiseshell on Green Alkanet

Female Small White - attempting to mate with a somewhat inept male

Speckled Wood

Andy M also saw, but did not photograph, Brimstone and Green-veined White.

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)