Monday 21 August 2017

Micro-fungi !

Whilst clearing out an old log heap in my garden, I spotted these tiny 'fungi' on a dead fruit wood branch.  Closer inspection, using my camera, revealed a whole new landscape, in miniature.


 These bowl-shaped discs, only 2-8mm (around 1/4 inch) across, I believe to be the 
somewhat dried fruiting bodies of the 'Variable Oysterling' (Crepidotus variabilis) fungus. 

Whilst less certain about these structures that look like a copse of 'miniature trees' - only 2-3mm tall! - they could be the fruiting bodies or sporocarps of a slime mould, such as Comatricha nigra.


Thursday 17 August 2017

Fungi popping up everywhere

There seem to be toadstools popping up everywhere at the moment - in the lawn, in the flowerbeds and in the woods.  Andy M has taken a few pictures, and hazarded a guess at identifying some of them - suggestions welcome !


Sprouting en masse from an old tree stump on Granta Park. 
Cap about 1cm across.  (Coprinus disseninatus)


Growing in the lawn at home - cap about 3-4cm across. 
Gills white and well spaced. Stipe streaked pink. (Hebeloma spp?)

Hard and scaly, eventually splitting to release black spore-mass inside.
Growing in the soil, about 4-5cm across. Common Earthball (Scleroderma aurantium)


Crazed, reddish-brown cap and red stipe, about 7-8cm across, with characteristic 
tube-shaped 'gills'. Growing on woodland edge at home. (Boletus pulverulentus)


Large fleshy cap with brownish scales and splitting edges 
- around 12cm across. Pinkish-white gills and chunky white stipe. 
In the mown grass on Granta Park.  (???)

Moths in the bathroom!

Having accidentally left the light on in the bathroom, Andy M had number of 'mothy' visitors yesterday evening.
Brimstone moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)

Willow Beauty moth (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)

Setaceous Hebrew Character moth (Xestia c-nigrum)



7-spot ladybird in Church Lane

Peter B found this ladybird (in the green bin) while pruning the shrubs on Sunday 13 August:


Butterflies on the LSA

Emma Jones took these photos of Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Red Admiral, and Peacock butterflies on the former LSA in July / August.





Saturday 12 August 2017

Brimstone Butterfly

Andy M took these pictures of a Brimstone butterfly in the lovely sunlight in his garden today.



Small Whites, Large Whites, a Gatekeeper and a Red Admiral were also seen, as well as a dragonfly - probably a Southern Hawker.

Saturday 5 August 2017

Sparrowhawk in Cambridge Road

Derek took this photo through the kitchen window on the morning of 5th August of a Sparrowhawk on a Woodpigeon.


He has heard from Marion Rusted that a Little Egret visited her pond the same morning and through her also heard of a Kingfisher in Sluice Wood earlier this week.


Friday 4 August 2017

Hummingbird Hawk Moth on South Road

Anne reports that they have had a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in the garden all day today (4th August). It has worked its way through the flower border, choosing first red Valerian and then Honeysuckle until finally reaching the tall Verbena (pictured).


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)