Thursday 4 July 2019

June 2019. Interesting Sightings around The Abingtons

June 2019
Amphibians and Reptiles
Toad – one found setting up home in bag of compost
Grass Snake – one (~1m long) seen in pond on Cambridge Road – otherwise few sightings despite the recent warm weather

Birds
Lackford Lakes – a group of thirteen enjoyed an interesting visit, seeing a total of 46 bird species, including Cetti’s Warbler (seen!), Hobby, Kingfisher, Marsh Tit and Spotted Flycatcher. An abundance of damselflies, dragonflies and some butterflies were also noted, as well as some notable flora. Blog article.
Fledglings – numerous reports of fledglings and young birds this month, including Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Mallard, Canada Goose, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Wren and Nuthatch.
Common Whitethroat – two sightings on Roman Road, and one pair regularly seen collecting food, presumably for young in the nest, along the Old Railway Cutting (17th)
Lesser Whitethroat – one report from the Roman Road (3rd). 
Blackcap, Chiffchaff – both heard regularly, especially towards end of month
Willow Warbler – single report of a singing bird along Old Railway Cutting (5th)
Reed Warbler - heard singing in Granta Park reedbed (20th)
Corn Bunting – several reports from Roman Road and Old Railway Cutting
Yellowhammer – seen and heard along the Roman Road, and on the Land Settlements
Skylark – a few reports along Roman Road, and a pair seen carrying food along Old Railway Cutting
Swallow – only two reports, with very few (2-4) birds being seen around the village
Swift – regularly reported above the village and Granta Park, with eight around Lt Abington Church
House Martin – nests with young visible on High Street, and up to 12 seen collecting mud from the edges of the lake on Granta Park
Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker – both regularly visiting garden feeders along High Street
Coal Tit – visiting feeders, and calling in Great Abington
Little Owl – 1-2 seen on Granta Park.  Tawny Owl, Barn Owl – a few reports of calls after dark
Kestrel – 1-2 young in nest in Sluice Woods early in month, and fledged birds seen nearby later on
Sparrowhawk – at least five sightings in gardens, often after catching small song-bird prey
Red Kite – 2-3 reports from along Roman Road and above Sluice Wood
Great Crested Grebe – single bird seen for a few days on Granta Park lake early in the month
Tufted Duck – pair seen around reeds on Granta Park (17th)
Cormorant – one on Granta Park lake (7th)
Greylag, Barnacle Goose and Canada Goose with 2-3 fledglings, regularly on Granta Park lake
Little Egret – one disturbed along the river (24th)

Butterflies, Bees and other insects
A good number of reports this month (223 in total), despite the weather being quite variable with some very hot days at the end of the month, and relatively little rain so likely to have been a lack of food plants for some species.
Meadow Brown – 45 sightings, large numbers seen in gardens and other open spaces, particularly the Roman Road.
Painted Lady – 18 sightings in second half of the month, very pleasing to see these migratory butterflies here; our last good year for them was 2009!
Holly Blue – 16 sightings, they are having a good year.
Red Admiral – 15 sightings, should be more in July and August.
Brimstone – 14 sightings, they are having a good year.
Speckled Wood – 14 sightings, increasing numbers again.
Small White – 13 sightings
Small Tortoiseshell – 9 sightings as the food plants recover from the dry weather.
Smaller numbers of Large White, Green-veined White, Skipper (Large, Small and Essex), Orange Tip, Comma, Small Heath and Ringlet reported. No sightings of Peacock butterflies (apart from caterpillars) or Gatekeeper.
Buff-tailed, Red-tailed, White-tailed and Tree Bumblebees – relatively few sightings.
Honey bees – few sightings.
Damselflies - Azure Damselfly – 2 sightings late in month; Common Blue Damselfly – 4 sightings; Large Red Damselfly – 3 sightings.
Banded Demoiselle – 9 sightings in second half of month
Dragonflies – only 2 reports, one of a Southern Hawker
Hummingbird Hawkmoth – one report

Flowers
Bourn Bridge Road verges were showing significant signs of recovery. Poppy were showing well and there were good flowers on both Hawksbeard and Hawkweed. Lady's Bedstraw and Hedge Bedstraw were not quite in flower but had plenty of buds. Field Scabious was coming on really well at the end of the month and Goatsbeard was setting seed well. Wild Mignonette was just showing colour and one small patch of Scarlet Pimpernel was seen. Wild and Bladder Campion, Hoqweed, Cow Parsley and Hemlock were in flower. There was a small amount of Yarrow. All along the verges there was plenty of Common Mallow. Unfortunately there were masses of Stinging Nettle too as well as Hedge Bindweed and Curled Dock.
Several Bee Orchid and one very rare Wasp Orchid were reported in Granta Park Blog Article, and Pyramidal Orchid were seen on the Old Railway Cutting, and on Granta Park.
Lackford Lakes visit - good examples of Southern Marsh Orchid and one Bee Orchid.
Viper's Bugloss around every corner.
Knapweed Broomrape seen along the Roman Road

Mammals
Bat – most likely Pipistrelle. Four reports of late evening sightings from around the village.
Hare – three reported on Granta Park, near the ‘hairdresser path’
Hedgehog – dropping seen regularly in a gardens in Gt Abington and on Bourn Bridge Road.
Muntjac – three reports of single deer on Cambridge Road and Church Lane
Field Vole – one report in a garden on Cambridge Road

RiverCare
The Rivercare group met on 5th June to sample the water quality and survey the river wildlife. Their results are summarised in the Blog article

Weather
Monthly rainfall figures for Abington - after a dry April - 13mm, May - 35mm, June - 73mm

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for June 2019:
Darren Bast, Peter Brunning, Lois Bull, Tricia Cullimore, Anne Dunbar-Nobes, David Farrant, Gaynor Farrant, Jennifer Hirsh, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy Merryweather, Polly Merryweather, Gareth Rees, Marion Rusted, Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge, Sally Turnidge, Sally Simmons, Gill Smith, Isobel Smith, Richard Smith. 

Please email your sightings within the Abington parishes to the relevant ANW Recorder:
Amphibians and reptiles: Anne Dunbar Nobes       ac.dunbar.nobes@gmail.com
Birds:                               Derek Turnidge               derek@turnidges.com
Butterflies, Bees etc:       Jennifer Hirsh                  jennifer@hirsh.com
Flowers:                          Sally Turnidge                  sally@turnidges.com
Mammals:                       Gill Smith                         richardandgill.smith@live.co.uk
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The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

  • To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
  • To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
  • To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
  • To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)