Abington Naturewatch

Wednesday, 6 July 2022

Wildflowers along the Old Railway Cutting

27th June 2022 - The Old Railway Cutting has a profusion of wild flowers in bloom at the moment, which in turn is supporting a good many butterflies - Andy M

Ragwort

Marjoram buds just about to burst

Marjoram in flower

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Mignonette

Wild Parsnip

Field Poppy

Common St John's Wort

Tufted Vetch

Knapweed

Red Dead-nettle

Scabious and a Meadow Brown

Ringlet

Scabious and Marbled White

Scabious and a Marbled White

Creeping (or Field) Thistle and a Small Tortoiseshell

Wildlife around Granta Park

26th June 2022 - an early morning walk around Granta Park revealed an interesting selection of wildlife - Andy M.

A Hare gambling around in the wildflower meadow

Hare

Grey Squirrel - alert for danger

Young Mallard ducklings

Female Mallard and ducklings

Male Mallard partially moulting into new plumage

Many Mallard taking to the safety of the lake during their moult

Also on the lake, a male Little Grebe - an unusual bird in the Abingtons,

with only a handful of reported sightings in the last ten years.

Barnacle Goose

Grey Wagtail hunting for insects along the shadowy riverbank

Male Pied Wagtail

Female Green Woodpecker eyeing me up from the telegraph pole

Female Green Woodpecker

Regurgitated pellets on a path. Probably from a Kestrel.

Note the large number of beetle wing-cases

Meadow Brown on Cow Parsley

Meadow Brown on Oxeye Daisy - note the double white spot in the black eye,

which is normally seen in Gatekeeper butterflies, but occasionally in Meadow Brown too.

Male Common Blue Damselfly

Common Centaury

Pyramidal Orchid

Stonecrop

Viper's Bugloss

Himalayan Balsam - an unwelcome invasive species

Butterflies

28th June 2022 - David F reported seeing both Small Tortoiseshell and Ringlet butterflies during his walk along Bourn Bridge Road.

Small Tortoiseshell

Ringlet

Broad Leaved Marsh Orchid

27th June 2022 - Len M reports he has a Broad Leaved Marsh Orchid in flower alongside his pond.

Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Bird Survey

Abington Naturewatch Bird Survey
2nd - 5th June 2022 Bank Holiday (Platinum Jubilee Weekend)

In spite of all the other attractions in the village over the Platinum Jubilee weekend, eight reports were received recording a total of 36 species:

Many thanks to all who took part.

Derek T

Rivercare Sampling Results

31st May 2022 - the Rivercare group undertook the usual river sampling near the ford, with the following results.

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)