FEBRUARY 2019
Amphibians
and Reptiles
Common Frog - first reports of activity in a garden
pond in South Road on 22 Feb, with first spawn of the year appearing in a pond
on Chalky Road on 26 Feb. This is the earliest record of frog spawn in
the Abingtons since reporting began in 2011, no doubt encouraged by the five
days of warm weather at the end of the month.
Birds
Many species continue to be reported in small flocks, prior to
dispersing to breed. In particular, 10 Meadow
Pipit and up to 60 Pied Wagtail
were reported on the cricket green, a flock of
20 Yellowhammer were regularly seen on the arable fields on the
Land Settlements, and 10-30 Linnet
along the Old Railway Cutting and on Granta Park. Up to 44 Reed Bunting were seen roosting in the reeds around Granta Park
lake.
Winter visitors such as Fieldfare
(up to 50) and Redwing (up to 100)
were reported throughout the month, particularly on the fields between the
churches, and near Hildersham Wood.
Golden Plover – a flock of ~30 were reported flying over fields near Abington
Park Farm.
Siskin were
reported for the first time this winter (14 Feb) on feeders at two locations –
far fewer than last year. There have been no reports of Redpoll yet this winter.
Nuthatch (1-2) and Great Spotted Woodpecker were also seen on several garden feeders,
visiting almost daily at some locations.
Goldfinch and Chaffinch in flocks of 10-12 were
regulars in several gardens, occasionally joined by only 1 or 2 Greenfinch, numbers of which seem to be
sharply down this year.
Bullfinch
(2-6) were twice reported feeding on tree flower buds, along the Old Railway
Cutting (10 Feb) and in a garden on the Settlements (24 Feb).
Goldcrest –
a pair was spotted in conifers along Cambridge Road (10 Feb), and occasionally a
single bird was seen amongst mixed tit flocks on Granta Park.
Jay - reported
at two locations, as a regular visitor to one, and was seen recovering stashed
acorns from a garden lawn.
Little Egret - spotted
several times along the river (18 and 26 Feb), as was a Grey Wagtail, seen feeding on the floating mats of fallen leaves
near the sluice (20 Feb). Grey Heron
were also regularly seen along the river.
Red Kite were
reported on three occasions, flying over Granta Park, Four Went Ways and North
Road. Up to six Buzzard were also seen soaring high on the thermals over Hildersham
Wood, above North Road, and around the meadows alongside the river. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were also occasionally seen over Granta Park.
Skylark was
reported singing on 10 Feb, along the Old Railway Cutting - first time this
year.
Corn Bunting was heard singing from a small clump of dried grasses near
Abington Park Farm, also the first report this year, on 19 Feb.
Several other species were also heard singing this month,
including Blackbird, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Wren and Robin.
A large number of Song Thrush
have been heard around the village, as well as a Mistle Thrush high up in trees by old A11, and a Coal Tit singing
in oak trees in Gt Abington (24 Feb), and on Granta Park in following days.
Red-legged
Partridge – a small covey was seen in the fields alongside Cambridge Road (25
Feb).
Butterflies,
Bees and other insects
Brimstone butterflies first seen on 15 Feb. Then 28 reports of Brimstone between
22 and 27 Feb, mainly in gardens across the village and a few along the Roman
Road. (In the five years 2014 to 2018 a total of only 21 were recorded.) Small
Tortoiseshell butterfly, first seen on 22 Feb with four more reported 23 to 27 Feb.
Comma butterfly first seen
on 22 Feb in the warm sunshine, with three more reports over the following
days.
Red Admiral butterfly first
seen on 25 Feb in Church Lane.
Peacock butterfly first
seen on 27 Feb in West Field.
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
first reported on 16 Feb and then 11 further reports
between 21 and 27 Feb.
Early Bumblebee seen on 25 Feb
along High Street.
Red-tailed Bumblebee seen on 26 Feb
in garden on Cambridge Road.
7-spot Ladybird first reported on 12 Feb and then large numbers seen on 27 Feb in a
garden on South Road.
No Harlequin ladybirds reported.
Note that between
22 and 27 Feb the weather was
exceptionally mild, accounting for larger numbers of early insects.
Flowers
Snowdrop
and Aconite flowers in Granta
Park woods were at their best in the sum mid-month.
Coltsfoot reported in flower near Hildersham Wood on 23 Feb,
much earlier than last year.
Sweet
Violet and Celandine
were seen in flower on rough ground along the High Street towards the end of
the month.
Mammals
Montjac Deer – several sightings throughout the
month, including two deer in Sluice Wood, two near the Old Railway Cutting, and
a one in a garden on Lt Abington High Street.
Hare – two seen south of the Old Railway Cutting (10 Feb). Two reports of a group of three seen on the
fields near Abington Park Farm, and 1-2 regularly at dusk on rough ground on
Granta Park towards the end of the month.
Roe Deer – a group of 14 in the field near Hildersham
Wood in 25 Feb.
Badger – report of one in Abington Woods near the
river on 28 Feb.
Many thanks to all those who have contributed
reports of their sightings for February 2019:
Peter Brunning, Lois Bull, Anne Dunbar-Nobes, David Farrant,
Gaynor Farrant, Ros Hedges, Jennifer Hirsh, Susan Hodges, Len Mead,
Andy Merryweather, Ross Nobes, Freda Orgee, Gareth Rees, Gill Smith, Derek
Turnidge, Sally Turnidge, George Woodley.
Please email your sightings, from within the
Abington parishes, to the relevant ANW Recorder:
Amphibians:
Anne Dunbar Nobes ac.dunbar.nobes@gmail.com
Birds: Derek Turnidge derek@turnidges.com
Butterflies
etc Jennifer Hirsh jennifer@hirsh.com
Flowers:
Sally Turnidge sally@turnidges.com
Mammals: Gill
Smith richardandgill.smith@live.co.uk
