Revived Ponds on Barton Fields
On Monday morning, two of the Barton Fields ponds, which had become completely overgrown with mainly vigorous Reed Sweet-grass (Glyceria maxima), were rejuvenated. We were 'loaned' a digger and driver by Fergal Construction Co Ltd, of Standlake, who have been working on the resurfacing of the Sustrans path running through Barton Fields. Ashley, the digger driver, was a delight to watch as he skilfully removed the top vegetation for stacking, then the roots and bottom mud that were delicately smoothed around the pond edges to allow any 'creatures' to return to water.
We now have two 'new' ponds that would have been lost as manually they could never have been dug out. Thanks deserved to Fergal and Ashley
from Graham Bateman: 21 October 2020
Sightings
Beautiful Demoiselle
I saw this Beautiful Demoiselle in my garden in Henwood for the first time ever!
from Margaret Abel: 23 May 2022
Muslin Moth
This Muslin Moth female was resting on our window today - first macro-moth I have seen in the garden this year!
from David Guyoncourt: 10 May 2022
Peat-free compost fungi
The peat free compost I use is based on wood fibres. It grows masses of tiny toadstools. Can anyone suggest an ID? Photos show one Antirrhinum in a pot of 10cm diameter with more than a dozen toadstools. Underside view shows gills with black spores.
(email ID suggestions to news@abnats.org.uk)
from Gillian Taylor: 19 April 2022
Scarlet Elf Cups
While clearing a path along the riverside wood in Barton Fields we found these Scarlet Elf Cups growing on a well-rotted branch. We have found these before in late winter/ early spring so are not usually found in autumn forays.
from David Guyoncourt: 6 March 2022
First butterfly sighting for 2022
Today I saw my first male brimstone butterfly of the year, it was at Lashford Lane nature reserve (BBOWT) in Wootton. In sunshine of course.
from Felicity Jenkins: 1 February 2022
Little Egret return to River Stert
A Little Egret has again been a regular visitor to River Stert in North Abingdon over the past few weeks, since the Environment Agency cleared a build-up of vegetation.
from Adrian Allsop: 15 December 2021
Winter thrushes and fallen apples
This week my fallen apples have attracted 2 song thrushes, 7 redwings, 2 fieldfares and up to 13 blackbirds including this one with white on the head.
from Gillian Taylor: 2 December 2021
What's been eating our roses and tomatoes?
My sharp-eyed grandson spotted this large green caterpillar with yellow ‘go faster’ stripe, eating our tomato plants. It turns out to be the larva of the Bright-line Brown-eye Moth (Lacanobia oleracea) also called the Tomato Moth.
from David Guyoncourt: 11 September 2021