Ely Local Group News – September 2012

Ely Local Group News – September 2014
Welcome to the Nineteenth newsletter
Tawny Owls and Frosted Oranges
A generally warm and sunny Summer has continued into Autumn, bringing good conditions for wildlife and those out
observing it. Once again, the Local Group has enjoyed a full and varied programme . Our indoor talks concluded with the
visit of Louise Rackham from the Great Fen Project, giving us an update on this exciting long-term habitat creation
initiative. In April we held our AGM. The committee was voted back in for another term of office, with members
continuing in their existing posts. We were extremely pleased to welcome Darren Thompson onto the committee. As is
now customary, the formal business was followed by a wildlife quiz. Following intense competition the laurels went to
Terry and his team.
Our outdoor programme began with a guided tour of Little Downham Local Nature Reserve. This really is a lovely site
and has noticeably matured since our last visit. Once again, reserve stalwart Keith Norton led us round and provided
amusing and informative commentary. It was a beautiful late Spring evening, with Whitethroats and Yellowhammers
calling from the hedgerows, though the undoubted highlight was a noisy family of Tawny Owls, the adults giving us
excellent views as they set off on and returned from hunting forays. In June our Chairman, Clive, was our guide as we
visited WWT Welney, having coveted ‘after hours’ access to this wonderful reserve. Winter floods and vast flocks of
wildfowl had of course given way to lush Summer growth, with meadowsweet, hemp agrimony and valerian amongst the
plants in flower. Barn Owl and Hobby gave us fly-by views and breeding waders could be viewed on the patches of
exposed mud. At the smaller scale we watched a Sexton beetle endeavouring to bury a dead mole!
In July we had an all-day trip over to The Great Fen Project. Helen and Terry were our guides as we visited a number of
the sites which form part of the patchwork of this exciting and ambitious ‘living landscape’. These included Holme Fen
where Red Kite and Buzzard competed for our attention with a wide selection of crickets, grasshoppers and dragonflies.
After refreshment at a village pub we spent the afternoon exploring Woodwalton Fen. Many interesting plants were seen,
including frogbit and bladderwort, whilst on the insect front we were treated to views of flying purple emperor butterflies.
Finally, early September saw us hold our customary ‘Creatures of the Night’ event centred on Pocket Park and the
riverbank. A bumper turn-out for this, including many children. David Seilley of the Cambridge Local Group once again
helped us look (and listen) for bats, whilst Roger Northfield had kindly returned with his moth traps, this time aided by
Bill Mansfield. A lovely (and dry!) evening for this and we were able to accrue a nice list of species, including straw dot,
large yellow underwing and the quite beautiful (and wonderfully named) burnished brass and frosted orange.
Talks, Walks and Work Parties
With hedgerows now festooned with berries and a real feel of seasonal change in the air there’s never been a better time to
get out and explore the countryside. With the nights drawing in, however, it’s also time to turn our attention to our indoor
programme of illustrated talks. This begins in October with the visit of Clare Simm from the British Trust for
Ornithology. Clare helps to co-ordinate the BTO’s long-running Garden Birdwatch scheme – citizen science at its finest.
Over recent years this has expanded to gather data on other garden creatures, such as amphibians and mammals and Clare
is well placed to answer the question, ‘Are gardens good for wildlife?’. In November we welcome back wildlife
photographer Jeff Harrison. Many of you will remember Jeff’s superb talk on Kingfishers, and can attest that, whilst
Jeff’s stunning images speak for themselves, Jeff is also an excellent and engaging speaker, providing an informative and
entertaining commentary. On this occasion Jeff will be taking us for ‘a walk on the wild side’, sharing with us some of his
favourite landscapes and their wildlife from around Britain.
We will once again be holding a post-Christmas Winter Wildlife walk. This year it’s in early January, which means that a
number of members of the committee will be engaged in (largely) friendly competition as they try and get their new year
bird lists off to a flying start. Whether you wish to assist, join in the competition or steer clear of list keeping, there should
be lots to see – and not just birds. It also provides a good way of working off some of that Christmas pudding! Later in the
month our very own Terry Moore will be our speaker. As many of you will know, Terry (and Helen) have over recent
years become greatly interested in orchids and Terry will be telling us about some of the species which can be found
within striking distance of Ely.
February’s speaker is Arnold Cooke who will be giving us an insight into the use of wildlife camera traps. If you’ve ever
fancied setting up camera traps in your own garden, or are just interested in seeing the results of someone who has, this is
the talk for you. March sees the visit of Michael Taylor from Natural England, who will be telling us about their
Cavenham Heath reserve. This Breckland site has a specialist flora, which includes mossy stonecrop, annual knawel and
the interestingly named suffocated clover. It’s also home to other unusual wildlife, including stone curlew and nightjar,
fen emperor dragonflies and fly agaric fungi. Finally, April will once again bring our AGM, followed by our wildlife quiz.
For 2014/15 our talks will remain at the Vernon Cross Room (Ely Museum), with the customary 7:45pm start. We have
an entrance charge of £2.50, which goes towards room hire and, in some cases, speaker expenses. Refreshments are
available to purchase and we also hold a small raffle. Free parking is available in the East Cambs District Council carpark (accessed from Nutholt Lane), which is next to the venue.
For further details about any of our events, please contact Will on [email protected] or (01353) 661339. Please
mention our events to any friends or family who you think may be interested in them.
Apple Festival
We will once again be having a stall at Ely’s Apple Festival, which will this year be held on Saturday 18 th October. We’ll
be promoting the Local Group as well as the work of the wider Wildlife Trust. We’ll also be selling Wildlife Trust
Christmas cards and calendars. Do come along to say hello if you attend the festival. If anyone would be willing to help
staff the stall, even if it’s just for an hour, we’d be very pleased to hear from you! Please contact Sophie on (01353)
661339 or [email protected].
Work Party at Roswell Pits
2014 saw the Local Group take its first steps into practical conservation work, running a work party at the small (but
beautifully formed) Wildlife Trust reserve at Roswell Pits, for which we now have responsibility for management. This
first exercise saw us clear scrub from paths and from a previously grass-covered bank. The bank subsequently held a
flowering bee orchid later in the year, which we’re putting squarely down to our efforts! We are holding another work
party, on the morning of Saturday October 4 th. If you’d be interested in joining us, please contact Will (contact details
above).
Nature in Cambridgeshire
As some of you will know, ‘Nature in Cambridgeshire’ is an annual journal, published in association with Cambridge
Natural History Society, which features articles and essays on the varied wildlife of our county. It’s a wonderful
publication, which always covers a fascinating selection of topics. The recent issue, no. 56 (2014), contains a piece on the
flora of Ely Common as well as a study of marsh orchids at Chippenham Fen by a certain Helen and Terry Moore!
For more information on this excellent publication, including how to purchase it, see
http://www.natureincambridgeshire.org.uk/index.html
Wildlife Watch
A reminder that Ely Wildlife Watch is the group for young wildlife enthusiasts and their families. For more information
contact Clive on (01353) 610224
We hope you have an enjoyable and wildlife-filled Autumn and Winter and look forward to seeing you at our events.
Dates for your diary:
Friday 17th October – ‘Are Gardens Good For Wildlife’ by Clare Simm, BTO
Friday 21st November – ‘A Walk On The Wild-Side’ by Jeff Harrison
Saturday 3rd January – Winter Walk. Meet 10:30am at Cathedral car-park (Barton Road, Ely)
Friday 16th January – ‘Local Orchids (to be found in a day’s trip from Ely)’ by Terry Moore
Friday 20th February – ‘Wildlife Camera Traps’ by Arnold Cooke
Friday 20th March – ‘Cavenham Heath’ by Michael Taylor, Natural England
Friday 17th April – AGM and Wildlife Quiz
Registered Charity No: 1000412

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