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PLEASE NOTE: Winter programmes will start in SEPTEMBER 2011 (rather than October). There will be no January 2012 meeting because the room in the Arkenstall Centre is not available due to changes in the Haddenham Pantomime schedule. |
| BREAKING NEWS: July 2011 |
31st: These two interesting insects were found today. The Adonis Ladybird is only 4-5 mms long but is identifiable by its head pattern. It was rare once but is spreading north probably due to "global warming". This was found in Barbara Yorks garden. The other is a common Ichneumon Fly but interesting to look at.  |
| 30th: Yesterday a Coal Tit to the nut feeder briefly. Today a Migrant Hawker emerged from the pond - I thought I had seen one fly from the pond the other day but it kept on going so I wasn’t able to confirm. Barbara York The conservatory at the Dickerson house seems to attract dragonflies. Maybe they will get a really rare specimen one day. PM (Photograph: Common Darter teneral 2011 ID)  |
| 28th: Haddenham High Street this morning 20-25 Swifts screaming around possibly pointing to mass fledging of young. Also House Martins on my house have just fledged 3-4 young so its all go... PM |
| 27th: I had a Marsh Harrier (probably a female) near Aldreth this evening and also a pair of Hobbies (the first I have seen locally for over a month. Simon Stirrup Coldish NE wind kept birds down in crops but glimpses of Meadow Pipit family, Yellow Wagtail family, Linnets, Yellowhammers, Reed Bunting and Skylark. A farmer reported a Marsh Harrier. Wild flowers seen were Marsh Woundwort, Perrenial Sow Thistle, Mugwort, Toadflax, Redshank, Pale Persicaria and unusually Storksbill. River Water Dropwort in Drain. PM Wild flowers from Back Drove/Foulmire Drove. Some of these are 'weeds' to farmers but nowadays its too expensive to spray them so they are left and become a wonderful insect food source and small birds hide in them and feed on the insects and seeds. What a lot of flowers eh! PM (Left to right and down): Toadflax, Mugwort, Perrential Sow Thistle,Woundwort behind; Marsh Woundwort, Galls Fen; Sun Spurge, Foulmire Drove; Redshank, Back Drove; Mugwort, Back Drove; Spreading Bur Parsley, Foulmire Drove; Pale Persicaria, Galls fen; River Water Dropwort, Back Drove; Storksbill, Foulmire Drove |
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| 23rd: Three hobbies high over the garden at 5.45pm today. One flew really high then stooped and nearly hit one of the others - a sort of play? Barbara York.Coldish NE wind kept birds down in crops but glimpses of Meadow Pipit family, Yellow Wagtail family, Linnets, Yellowhammers |
22nd: This is a White-lettered Hairstreak, one of two we saw today at Fairchild's Meadow,the first we have seen this year. Ian and Sheila Dickerson ,Reed Bunting and Skylark. A farmer reported a Marsh Harrier. |
| 20th: Had spotted flycatcher in the garden early evening. I was hoping that there would be two like last year but could only see one although it was very mobile. Barbara York.Wild flowers seen were Marsh Woundwort, Perrenial Sow Thistle, Mugwort, Toadflax, Redshank, Pale Persicaria and unusually Storksbill. |
19th: Some pictures of just a few of the moths caught at moth trapping session on 19 July 2011 (View full list by clicking here). Most were very small and not very photogenic. Please click here to download a concise list containing species names and quantities seen. Photographs, left to right and down: White Satin, Ruby Tiger, Poplar Hawkmoth, Pebble Prominent and Iron Prominent, Iron Prominent, Buff Ermine       This Great Diving Beetle was attracted to the light last night at moth trapping. Ian Dickerson    These are three of four fledglings and one adult we had on the lawn at the same time,so the tons of currants Sheila has thown out have paid off. Ian Dickerson  River Water Dropwort in Drain. |
| 18th: This morning, on Grunty Fen, I counted 4 turtle doves. Three were together from one territory and another bird was on its own. Although I cannot be 100 per cent certain, as I do not want to disturb breeding birds, but, this maybe a third pair! It is pleasing to hear successes at other sights in the county. David Nation So, together with at least 5-6 pairs in other parts of Haddenham parish it sounds as though the species is doing well, in spite of having to risk getting shot over France and around Mediterranean countries. PMPictures will follow. |
12th: This a pyralid moth (with an obscure latin name) sitting outside my back door this morning (anyway its interesting). |
| 11th: Quail calling Grunty Fen late evening per David Nation. Up to 20 Swifts in an evening over Aldreth at the moment. About a week ago I watched an adult Tawny Owl and 2 well grown youngsters at dusk in Aldreth. On 2nd July I had 4 Oystercatchers flying along the Old West River near 9 acre wood per Simon Stirrup. |
10th: Blog along Petrus Wood edge and elsewhere found many Butterflies especially Commas, Red Admiral, Small Copper.Greenveined White. Brown Hawker Dragonfly hovering menacingly over them on blackberries. Plants seen are Prickly Lettuce and Bristly Oxtongue. Note difference in leaf structure to tell them apart. Lords and Ladies berries seen. Birds: Chiffchaff, Blackcap. Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Greenfinch all singing. PM Greenveined White Butterfly   Prickly Lettuce (left); Lords and Ladies (right)   Prickly Lettuce underside (left); Bristly Oxtongue |
7th: This freshly emerged female Southern Hawker dragonfly came into Ian Dickersons conservatory. ID. |
| 4th: After the big freeze last winter Kingfishers have not been seen until the last two to three days. One seen at Guppys Pond per Mike/Gill Smith; two on Old West River per Alan Yarrow. They are probably this year's young bred elsewhere and prospecting for vacant territories. |
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1st: Trip round North Fen proved very interesting when talking to a local farmer who had just been spraying his crops. He still had machinery on back of tractor when we saw this dragonfly darting in and out of it. It caught something and settled on the machinery and gave excellent views close up. Heard up to 5 singing Yellowhammers, 6 singing Common Whitethroats, 1 Lesser whitethroat and saw a pair of canoodling Turtle Doves. Photos all by Ian D. PM.
   Left to right: Hairy Dragonfly North Fen (middle picture Hairy Dragonfly head on eating prey) ID. |
On Aldreth Road side verge found these wild flowers. Weld, Meadow Cranesbill, Yarrow, Prickly Sow Thistle and notably Ribbed Melilot. Three days later and they were all mown down by County Council roadside mowers! Its all weeds to them! PM.  Above & Below: Ribbed Melilot Aldreth Road verge 2011 Prickly Sow Thistle, Yarrow, Mayweed, Weld, Aldreth Rd |
  Large Skipper butterfly on Prickly Sowthistle 2011 |
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