Starling mini-murmurations on Granta Park

In recent evenings, Andy M has been watching 'mini-murmurations' of starlings above the lake in Granta Park. Just before sunset, several flocks each numbering a few hundred birds, start to arrive - each performing their swirling, aerial manoeuvres for several minutes before finally dropping into the reeds.  Over 30 minutes or so, around a thousand starlings had crammed themselves into the reedbed, all chattering noisily before settling down to roost.

Siskins return

Anne D-N reported having three Siskins in her garden for most of the morning – mainly visiting the water feature by her pond, but they have also been on the feeders.  These are the first Siskins of the season, possibly coming into her garden now after the recent colder nights.

Bird Species seen in Gt and Lt Abington parishes

Derek Turnidge has collated this list of reported bird species seen within the two parishes since 2000AD.  A total of 115 species!

Link to document below:
Abington NatureWatch Bird List

Goldcrest seen in High Street

Jennifer saw this Goldcrest in her garden on the wall near a window on 4th November. She's unsure if she has ever seen one in that garden before.

She also reports seeing a Muntjac near her front door earlier on the same day.

A tree creeper was also seen on a tree in the High Street a couple of days earlier.

Tree Sparrows in Cambridge Road (and Buzzard)

Derek saw 3 Tree Sparrows on 21 October - here is a picture of one of them. 

He also saw a Buzzard in a dead tree at the bottom of garden on 20 October - shown with a Magpie for scale!

Observe bio-security - clean boots and equipment if you visit other rivers!

Back in July, we were advised of am outbreak of crayfish plague in Norfolk. 

The Fish Health Inspectorate at CEFAS advised that the dead white-clawed crayfish found at Sculthorpe Mill on the River Wensum recently were due to crayfish plague.

This makes it a good time to remind people of the Check-Clean-Dry guidance that is now more important than ever to protect remaining native populations in the upper Wensum, Tat and other Norfolk rivers.

This is equally, if not more, important if you visit these rivers and return here (or elsewhere).

Getting into a good practice routine of biosecurity when using watercourses for leisure or work is so important, 

World Rivers Day - celebrated at Abington Woods on 24 September

Deborah set up some displays and activities, aimed mostly at her young customers, at Abington Woods. There are some photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskEaCter.

Wasps around!

Steve Roughley took this picture of holes on the footpath to the A11 footbridge, a couple of weeks ago. He thinks they are the holes of digger wasps, some of which still seem to be active.  He has seen the odd wasp entering or leaving over the summer but not caught one on camera.

There is also a hole on the river bank near the Millennium footbridge, which was in use by wasps today (3 October).

Mushrooms around!

George saw these in Granta Park at the weekend - 1-2 October.

I've also seen them around in other places nearby.

Moths in Church Lane

Last night David set up his moth trap next door to Little Abington church, so this morning (1st October) we opened it up to see our visitors.

There was a reasonable selection of mostly 'little brown' moths and one or two other insects!

Thanks for Mike and Lois Bull for the tentative identifications below - all Noctuids, the largest family of moths:

Smoky Wainscot

Smoky Wainscot

Barred Chestnut

Bordered Gothic

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Barred Chestnut 

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Barred Chestnut 

Barred Chestnut 

Barred Chestnut 

Neglected Rustic

Neglected Rustic

Thanks to Graham, our host: