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Click on "Programme & Volunteering" to see the Working parties |
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Click on "Flora & Fauna Record" to go to the Birds and Wild Flower Systematic lists
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BREAKING NEWS: April, May, June 2016
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27 June 2016: Siskin juvenile. Froize End. C Boness. A very early Siskin juvenile makes one ponder...did they breed locally although they are known to travel long journeys at this age so could be Scottish or even Scandinavian. One was also at Spurn Point in Yorkshire on the same day. Spurn is a Bird Observatory at the Hull estuary. PM |
26 June 2016: Two flowers...Wild in my garden. Fox and Cubs also known as Orange Hawkweed. Cant work out why it has anything to do with Foxes! Also Hoary Willowherb. All black Carpenter bee on my wild Purple Toadflax yesterday but couldn't get a picture...............yet. PM  |
| 24 June 2016: Also on Garden Valerian, Hummingbird Hawk Moth and Small Tortoishell just out. PM |
| 23 June 2016: In between showers a Painted Lady on the Valerian. PM |
23 June 2016: The hedge is looking grand. Photos of it in bloom and redeveloping. Jez Reeve. This was the hedge in Fairchild's Meadows that was laid after being planted 10 years ago. A report was put on this site last January. PM  |
17 June 2016: More flowers from Aldreth Roadside before the mowers come: Beaked Hawksbeard. PM  |
14 June 2016: Just three photos of wild flowers along Aldreth Road verges. Mainly the result of County Council not cutting them so often. You win some, you lose some but this must be a plus. Plants not rare but don't often photo them. Ribwort Plantain, Common Mallow and White Campion. I expect the mower will come along now!!!!!! PM   |
| 12 June 2016: Heard Lesser Whitethroat singing from the garden this morning. Not too far away- just beyond the houses I would guess? BY I took this image of a pair of mating Large Red Damselflies by our garden yesterday (11th June). Simon.  |
10 June 2016: Here are some recent images from around Aldreth – Painted Lady, male Broad-bodied Chaser and Water Violets in Church Fen Drain. Simon.   |
9 June 2016: North fen Drove to Milkinghill. Hoped for Turtle Doves but heard none. Doesn't mean to say not there though. Usual Common Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcaps, Yellowhammers, Linnets and a pair of Bullfinches coming to puddle. Not many wildflowers out yet except found some Wintercress in Milkinghill area. First confirmed siting (pictures will follow). Lastly was surprised to find a teneral male Scarce Chaser dragonfly. It is at least 3 miles from any river habitat that it would have emerged from. Galls Drain. Hairy Dragonfly. Water Violet and Cuckooflower (along edges) showing. No birds showing. Probably on eggs and keeping quiet. Last a surprise at TwoPot farm end of track to North Fen, Hillrow end.... A Mink crossed track grrrrr. PM&ID   |
| 5 June 2016: South of Hoghill Drove - Cormorant 1 or 2, Kestrel 1, Grey Partridge 2, Oystercatcher 1, Common Tern 4+, Swift 15+, Yellow Wagtail 1, Whitethroat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Reed Warbler 1 or 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Reed Bunting 1. East end of Cross Drove - Painted Lady 1, Red Admiral 1, Peacock 1. Garden, Aldreth – Grass Snake 1, Painted Lady 1 6 June: Aldreth – Painted Lady 3. Looks like there has been an arrival of Painted Lady butterflies! Simon. |
4 June 2016: Aldreth Road garden. No sooner had the sun come out after days and days of cold north wind that 3 Painted Ladies were on my Valerian and 2 were mating. Is it going to be another Painted Lady year I ask. We shall see. Photograph: Painted Lady, already worn from long journey against the cold north wind. Arrived with sunshine. PM |
2 June 2016: Station Road. Male Bullfinch in garden with female out of picture. Jez Reeve |
| 30 May 2016: Duck Lane garden: Young long tailed tits being fed by parents this morning. BY |
26 May 2016: Rather poor light at the time and it was through car front window but these 2 Yellowhammers were brilliant near Two Pot farm yesterday. There were 3 actually but would never all get together enough for a picture. PM |
| 25 May 2016: Both Goldfinch and Song Thrush fledglings in the garden this morning, been fed by parents. Barbara York On my way up High Street I heard at least 3 Song Thrushes singing and I believe they have had a good year for a change. Mistles not as good though. PM |
25 May 2016: This image was taken last Sunday of the Old West River to the south of Hoghill Drove. I have to confess that this was the first time I had visited this area. Simon. |
| 25 May 2016: Weather dull and drizzly. Large amount of Water Violets showing by Aldreth Causeway in Church Fen Drain. near Nineacre Wood, Pair of Grey Partridges, Common Whitethroat. Ewell Fen 1 Mistle Thrush and numerous Corvids. Dambank Usual Corn Buntings and Yellow Wagtails. Long Drove. Even more Pennycress showing. North Fen. Hare. Track to Galls Farm. 3 male Yellowhammers all on ground but not interacting. PM&ID |
| 20 May 2016: Engine Drain. Aldreth. pair Gadwall. Church Fen Drain. Kingfisher caught and ate fish then flew off towards Aldreth. Knows a good garden pond I guess. Aldreth ponds. Chiffchaff singing and a chorus of others. Pair Mistle Thrushes chasing around. Sundry others. Dambank. Several pairs Corn and Reed Buntings plus at least 2 pairs Yellow wagtails, males singing in strong wind. Drain by Dambank Bridge. Gadwall pair. Long Drove usual confiding Corn Bunting on show plus others including Linnets all active and singing. They must be happy. Many Orange Tips along ditches. Many Holly Blues along hedges. Azure Blue damselflies emerging now at The Brinks. Pair of Bull finches also The Brinks. PM & BY. |
20 May 2016: Sorry tale of failed nest of Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Aldreth Road Orchard. This nest hole and birds were visible from house and watched closely. Today the birds disappeared without producing any young. Parents kept looking in hole and seemed distressed. No young were observed with heads out begging in usual manner. Birds later deserted nest. Photo not best but only one to be fit to show. We had planned more but desertion made this impossible. PM. RN. |
| 15 May 2016: In garden. Family party Bullfinches Male/female/ 2 young. Wendy Lanman Pair of Treecreepers. 2 Kingfishers. Large emergence of Blue-tailed Damselflies and several Lacewings of some sort. PM & ID House Martins back at my nest PM Single Spotted Flycatcher...Not a breeding site. First for this year and in the village. Ian.  |
14 May 2016: Our friend still in the garden,hope she brings her young ones to see us . Ian. |
13 May 2016: I have never found this before. 1. Goldilocks Buttercup close up. showing different leaves to normal Meadow Buttercups. 2 Goldilocks Buttercup. Aldreth Road margins. PM 12.5.16.  |
13 May 2016: Some wild flowers I managed to photo on road verge from my buggy! 1. Dovesfoot Cranesbill. 2. Herb Robert. 3. Pied Wagtail, Guppys Pond on cane put to attract Kingfishers but better luck next time.(yesterday). PM   |
13 May 2016: There is a pair (male & female) of bullfinches on our lawn! Brian saw them yesterday too. It must be a full ten years since I had seen any here! Wendy |
| 12 May 2016: No sign of the flycatchers yet but we have a pair of Coal Tits nesting just below the normal nesting place on the wall. Mike Williamson |
12 May 2016: Lots of Holly Blues around Haddenham this week. This one by Ivy on footpath from Camping Close to Duck Lane. Taken by phone. Chris Boness |
12 May 2016: High excitement at Bramley Grange yesterday - I noticed a swarm of bees in one of my trees, and Harry got in touch with Brian who has moved them into one of the hives. He believed he managed to get the Queen, so any stragglers should follow. Madeline Vialls  |
| 12 May 2016: [11th] spotted new visitors to our garden yesterday - a pair of siskins bathing in our water feature. Sally |
| 11 May 2016: At 10.10 Male Marsh Harrier circling over Linden Way and Aldreth Road. Then flew East over Orchard and Lode Way towards Wilburton. Chris Boness |
| 7 May 2016: On an hour’s circular walk from Aldreth this morning I had 10+ singing Whitethroats, 3 singing Lesser Whitethroats and a singing Cuckoo. Last week on the SE side of Aldreth I had a pair of Lesser Whitethroats. Quite a change from last year when I don’t think I heard any Lesser Whitethroats locally and certainly heard no Cuckoos. First House Martins over the garden today and first Holly Blues in the garden. Simon |
| 3 May 2016: Trip round several fens today found numerous Common Whitethroats in usual places. Lesser White throats at Hoghill Drove and Tinkers Lane. Strangely for time of year had a flock of 28 Linnets at Tinkers Lane but the two separate pairs along Long Drove. Common Buzzard Hoghill Drove. No Wheatears now on Long Drove but pair of Yellow Wagtails by Claytons Bridge. Corn Bunting Dambank, Long Drove and North Fen. Last but not least 3 Wheatears in last reports North Fen but these are definitely different as first ones were all males and these latest are 1 male and 2 females. PM & ID |
| 3 May 2016: This morning's walk around 6.30am down Aldreth Causeway to the West River brought sightings of 4-5 Whitethroats, a lone Reed Warbler by the bridge, 4 pairs of Tufted ducks on the river and a pair of Kingfishers flying out from under the bridge. Sally |
| 30 April 2016: Female Redstart and singing Turtle Dove in Aldreth today. And quick walk from Aldreth to the Old West River produced Gadwall 1 pair, Tufted Duck 1 pair, Swift 2, Swallow 2, Sand Martin 2, Yellow Wagtail 2 and Whitethroat 1 male. Simon. |
29 April 2016: This evening there were 2 male Wheatears in a ploughed field along Long Drove. SS |
28 April 2016: Pictures of Field Pennycress appearing along Long Drove after soil was disturbed by being banked up to repaired road. PM  |
| 24 April 2016: Long Drove. 5-8 Wheatears cant be sure because they are moving about so much from one field and on to disturbed soil right against road and elsewhere. At least 3 males. Up to 4 Yellow Wagtails. Probably paired up now. 2-3 singing Corn Buntings again one immediately by road on a Reedmace seed head unconcerned by humans around in and out of cars. 2 Little Egrets. PM, SD & ID |
| 23 April 2016: Learn about the fascinating under-water wildlife in your area – FREE Ditch Biodiversity Workshop in Haddenham on 20 July. Click HERE for details. |
| 23 April 2016: Had a quick look this morning before breakfast. Still 2 Wheatears and 2 Gadwall near Clayton Bridge per SS. |
| 21 April 2016: This morning I had a pair of Shelducks over the house, Froize End, heading North at 09.40. Chris Boness |
20 April 2016: Ride round fens didn't produce all we hoped for but did see. Hoped for some warblers but no. Church Fen Drove 4 Yellow Wagtails feeding around potato planter. All fens 4 pairs Grey Partridge. Field near Aldreth Ponds pair Mistle Thrushes feeding. North Fen Galls Drove 8 Corn Buntings. 3 male Wheatears one of which came close to car on the bridge. Annoyed because it wouldn't turn round and show off its brilliant chest but photo anyway. Churchyard Song Thrush singing. PM&ID |
20 April 2016: Two more firsts for this year. Male and female Orange tips and two Holly blues. Ian. |
| 19-20 April 2016: Footpath around Fairchilds Meadow. 2 Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Footpath of Nelsons Lane. Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaff. Opposite cemetery on path to Fairchilds Meadow. Whitethroat in Briars on old greenhouse area. 2 Blackcap in song. Willow Warbler in Orchard of Nelson lane track. And Swallows around Youngs Busses and Fairchilds Meadow farm. More Swallows 20th. Chris Boness A single field along Long Drove this evening held 5 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtails and 3 Pied Wagtails. Simon. |
| 17 April 2016: PRESS RELEASE on a Wildlife Trust water vole survey report and a SHORT COURSE: INFORMATION. To view the REPORT ONLY, please click here |
17 April 2016: In Aldreth today – Turtle Dove still singing, Willow Warbler singing, Swallow 2+ males. Long Drove – Wheatear female. Below is another image of a male Grey Partridge. Just back from a week on Cape Verde – surprised by how green everything is here! Simon. |
| 15 April 2016: Today around noon, excellent views of White Wagtail & Corn Bunting from Long Drove. Then Yellow Wagtail & several more Corn Buntings on overhead wires along Dam Bank Drove. David & Sallie Jones |
| 15 April 2016: Yesterday afternoon, I watched a soaring Buzzard over my Haddenham garden being mobbed by what I would describe as a half-hearted crow. Mind you, it was a very warm day. Jake |
| 13 April 2016: Long Drove 2 male Yellow Wagtails. 1 White Wagtail. Aldreth Ponds Pair Mistle Thrush breeding may not mean much to many but after about 4 years decline Mistles are moving back in to our patch. 2 pairs Yellowhammers on station and 6-8 Linnets fuffing around. 1 pair Common Buzzards circling displaying over nesting area. Odd Swallows in but big arrival yet to come. No Warblers. PM&ID |
| 6 April 2016: Guppys Pond. Lots of sightings of kingfishers - very happy they look too (as do the cormorants, sometimes 2 at a time). There are plenty of fish around too and I heard frogs croaking just the other day, so there's lots of activity. We also had the visit of a couple of greylag geese, but they haven't stayed. No swans, though. Oh, and for the first time in over 20 years, we all seem to have acquired at least one mole! Wendy Lanman |
| 5 April 2016: Grey Partridge taken near Aldreth on 5th April. |
3 April 2016: Our first butterflies of the year,a Brimstone and Comma we also had a Tortoiseshell and Peacock but they were too quick for me. Ian.  |
| 1 April 2016: Male Swallow perched on wires in Aldreth, Water Vole 1 in Causeway Ditch. Simon. |
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