Abington Naturewatch: September 2013

Sunday 29 September 2013

World Rivers Day

World Rivers Day (http://worldriversday.com/) is celebrated each year all round the world. This year it was officially on 29th September but we celebrated it on Saturday 28th September, while the Abington Institute was open for Jeremiah's Café.

We had a steady stream of young visitors between 10:00 and 12;00, some of whom went off with nets to add to our collection of specimens to examine. We had fish, shrimp and signal crayfish as well as a few insects.

Examining and sorting the specimens

These crayfish were cooked - very tasty!

Lots of crayfish found!

Pine Hawk-Moth caterpillar

This photo of a Pine Hawk-Moth caterpillar was taken by Ali Nobes. The caterpillar, measuring 5 cm in length, was found dead in their garden pond and was identified by looking at http://butterfly-conservation.org/2401-1682/pine-hawk-moth.html.

Its food plant is the native Scots pine, and they have a large tree growing close to the pond. The adult moth is grey in colour, so the caterpillar is its more glamorous stage!

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)