Recognition for Judy Webb
Judy Webb a local natural historian and conservationist was included in the New Year's Honours List. She has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) ‘For services to Conservation of Wildlife and Habitats in Oxfordshire’.
Judy's contribution was also recognised on the BBC Woman's Hour Power List 2020 and was interviewed recently on BBC Radio 4.
The Abingdon Naturalists' Society congratulate Judy on this well deserved recognition of her great work.
1 January 2021
Sightings
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
Turkeytail fungi
I saw this remarkable cluster of Turkeytail fungi yesterday on the path along the eastern edge of Bagley Wood, at the bottom of Bagley Close gardens. More walks are called for to see how many survive and develop the colour-banding which give it the scientific name, Trametes Versicolor?
from Adrian Allsop: 31 August 2021
Potter Wasp
This Potter Wasp (Ancistrocerus nigricornis) I thought was feeding on our patch of Marjoram growing in our ‘lawn’, but on closer inspection I could see that it had a small caterpillar in its jaws, possibly a Purple & Gold moth larva which feeds on Marjoram. According to my Collins Guide to British Insects the unfortunate larva will be taken to its mud nest where it will be stung to paralyse it, and stored awaiting consumption by the wasp larva - lovely!
from David Guyoncourt: 22 August 202
Spectacular Brackets
Stretching 25 ft up an old sweet chestnut tree in Boxhill Wood..
from Tony Richmond: 12 August 202
Uncommon moths
I've had two uncommon moths in my garden moth trap recently. First was a Scarce Ermine, which hasn't been recorded in VC22 (Berkshire) since 2011. The second was a Toadflax Brocade, which isn't as scarce, although there are only a few records per year from this area.
from David Hastings: 29 July 2021
Here's another moth. A Red Underwing which I found at the allotment this morning.
from David Hastings: 31 July 2021
Purple Emperor Butterfly
Jo took this photo while out for a walk adjacent to the sustrans track, to the southern end of Thrupp Lake. The butterfly was spotted at around 10.30am on Sunday morning.
from Mike and Jo Turner: 20 July 2021
Scalloped Oak Moth
We were having coffee in our garden and a Scalloped Oak Moth fluttered in.
from Mike and Jo Turner: 17 July 2021
Blueberry bandit
click/tap to view the video…Here is a short video of our chief Blueberry Bandit, our cheekiest Blackbird that we call Roger, taking a bath under the very bush from which he's been thieving. I have subsequently netted it, but he had that figured out in minutes. I'm going to need a better net, or get up before he does.
from Tam Richmond: 10 July 2021