Proposed programme for April, May & June 2010

Confirmation & details of time & place will be given shortly before the event.

APRIL

24th Sat, 11 a.m. - River sampling, at the Ford

MAY

13th Thurs, 7.p.m. - River sampling, at the Ford

15th Sat, 9 a.m. - Moth survey, at Victor & Audrey’s - CANCELLED

21st Fri, 7 p.m. - Flora walk, Beech Wood (helleborines) - CANCELLED

29th Sat, 9 a.m. - Moth survey, at Marion’s

JUNE

8th Tues, 7 p.m. - River sampling, place t.b.d.

10th Thurs, 1030 a.m. - Flora walk, Devil’s Dyke I

16th Wed, 10 a.m. - Birds, flora, dragonflies etc, RSPB Fen Drayton
(RSPB will take us round)

19th Sat, 9 a.m. - Moth survey, at Victor & Audrey’s

25th Fri, 7 p.m. - Flora walk, Devil’s Dyke II

30th Wed, 7.p.m. - Granta Park meadow & lake


Possibilities for later months are:
July - River sampling, Moth survey, Bourn Bridge PRV, Wicken Fen, Devil‘s Dyke III
August - Upland stubble
September - River sampling, Lowland stubble

Newts and Toads

Amphibians are reappearing in garden ponds.
Derek Turnidge sent these photos...


Toad




Smooth Newt

Red Admiral on snowdrops

Victor Bugg writes: "A Red Admiral on snowdrops is a fairly rare sight. It stayed around for twenty minutes..."

Blackbird for breakfast?

Jim Cracknell took several pictures of this Sparrowhawk in his garden last week...

Autumnal notes

For the first time for a number of years the Bourn Bridge Road and Linton Road arable fields have been ploughed early. The big field just beyond the railway to the east of Chalky Road was in stubble until recently, but owing to the drought there was only one of our 'target' stubble plants above the ground, nothing to justify an expedition. I had hopes that the recent rain might have had some good results, only to find that the plough has now arrived there too.

Another good year for fruits and berries is some consolation. The Spindle Tree near the river at the border between the cricket and fooball fields is looking better than ever. Derek Turnidge provided these photos.

Next month's village News will have details of our autumn Members Meeting which will be on the morning of Saturday 14th November. Prominent points will be deciding on one or two winter bird outings, and collecting ideas for our Naturewatch Evening early in the New Year.

Pat Daunt
Naturewatch coordinator

Moths at the Buggs' - 30th May 2009

River sampling - 26th September 2009

Beetle larvae

Hairworm

We sampled at the ford and near the newly repainted Millennium Bridge in a river that was quite low - with a lot of fools' water-cress in places. The samples were less abundant than usual but we saw one or two interesting creatures in and around the river, including a shoal of around 20 fish and a mallard. We also heard a great spotted woodpecker. The samples were predominantly larvae and shrimp, with a few worms and snails.