January 2020
Amphibians and Reptiles
No sightings reported
this month.
Birds
Brambling – a single
male seen under garden feeders with a flock of Chaffinch, on Lewis Crescent
(14th - 22nd). First
report of this winter visitor this season.
Fieldfare – early in
month, flocks of 5-10 around Granta Park and on LSA, with similar numbers of Redwing
on GP, and in fields behind Cambridge Road.
A sizeable mixed flock also seen in the fields near the sawmill on A1307
(28th).
Blackcap – single report
of an over-wintering male, in a garden on Cambridge Road.
Starling – 1000-2000
continue to murmurate over GP most evenings, prior to roosting in the reed bed.
Small flocks of c50-100 feeding at various locations during day, in particular on
GP and the Perse sports fields. Reed
Bunting – c10 also regularly roost in the GP lake reedbeds.
Mixed flocks of Blue
Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit and finches, mostly Goldfinch and
Chaffinch, in gardens, along the Old Coach Road and in Lagden’s Grove. More reports of small numbers (1‑6) of Greenfinch
this month.
Great Spotted
Woodpecker – one on a garden feeder on High Street, and feeding in old
trees behind Lewis Crescent and along Old Coach Road.
Green Woodpecker – occasional
sighting on GP, and in a garden along Cambridge Road.
Nuthatch – two on a garden
feeder in LA.
Treecreeper
– one seen in Sluice Wood, and one in a garden on
West Field.
Goldcrest – one in
conifer tree in a garden on Cambridge Road.
Barn Owl – one heard
screeching around GA church (20th). Tawny Owl – heard hooting on several occasions
early in month.
Buzzard – two around
Sluice Wood and Perse sports fields, and one over West Field.
Sparrowhawk – one seen in a
Cambridge Road garden. A young male was also found dead along Cambridge Road
and reported to RSPB.
Red Kite – several
reports of 1-2 around LA church, over West Field and Bourn Bridge Road, and over
fields near the Roman Road.
Barnacle Goose – 5-7 on GP
cricket pitch until 8th.
Cormorant – single bird
on GP lake on several occasions. A few Moorhen,
and 10-20 Mallard on the lake and along the river throughout the month.
Little Egret – two
reports of a bird along river in Sluice Wood (12th and 27th).
Grey Heron – 7 on Bancroft
Farm Meadow (27th), and single bird around GP lake.
Grey Wagtail – one along
the river edge near sluice (2nd).
Mistle
Thrush - 2 heard singing from treetops in Sluice Wood (27th).
Several reports around the villages of Song Thrush, also singing.
Jay
– several reports of single birds on GP and in
gardens.
Jackdaw
and Rook – large flock of c130 feeding in ploughed
field along Pampisford Road. Also a
flock of c30 on Perse Sport Fields.
Herring
Gull – 100+ over Sluice Wood and Perse Fields, and a single Great
Black-backed Gull.
Pheasant
– occasional sightings along Old Coach Road, and in gardens.
Butterflies, Bees and other insects
As expected a very
quiet month due to the variable weather and lack of sunshine. Only 2 reports in
the month:
Bees – two
Buff-tailed bumblebees.
Butterflies – one
report of a hibernating butterfly in a house, species unknown.
Butterfly
hibernation
On BBC’s Winterwatch
programme, there was a report from a man has been recording hibernating
butterflies which he discovered in an old brick garden shed. The butterflies are mainly Small Tortoiseshell
and Peacock, and are found in dark places under shelves or under the roof. He has been recording when they first arrive
and when they leave; he has been surprised to find that they have in the last
couple of years been starting to hibernate earlier, even as early as mid-June. He is reporting his findings to Butterfly
Conservation.
It is not known why
this is happening, but it could account for the lower numbers of the Small Tortoiseshell
butterflies in late June or through July that we have noticed here.
If you see hibernating
butterflies (not always easy to identify the species), then please report them
to Jennifer for our Abington records. Do not on any account touch or move them,
or they will die.
Mammals
Fallow
Deer – Two presumably separate herds, each of c12; one near
Abington Park Farm GA and the second in fields near Grange Farm, LA.
Muntjac
Deer –
one seen on Granta Park.
Fox
– Two in the early morning in a garden on Church
Lane, LA.
Flora
Snowdrops
– first few clumps in flower on 5th, with
large areas fully out by the end of the month.
Aconites
– first flowers around New Year. Following the mild weather towards the end of the month, large
areas were seen in full flower, particularly in Sluice Woods and more
unusually, along the Roman Road.
Hazel
Catkins – showing well mid-month in Sluice Wood, GP.
Wild
Arum – glossy green leaves showing in Lagden’s Grove, some with
black spots - in abundance by the end of the month.
Rivercare
Nothing to report this
month.
Weather
Rainfall for January
was 51.5 mm. Generally mild, with a couple
of short colder spells. Minimum temperature
of minus 4.2ºC, with a high of 9.2ºC.
Many thanks to all
those who contributed reports of their sightings for January 2020:
Barry Brookes, Peter Brunning, Vicki Brunning, Audrey Bugg, Anne
Dunbar-Nobes, David Farrant, Gaynor
Farrant, Robin Harman, Jennifer Hirsh, Andy Merryweather, Brian Parris, Gareth Rees, Gill Smith,
John and Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge, Sally Turnidge.
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
Mammals: Gill Smith richardandgill.smith@live.co.uk
Flora: Currently vacant - if interested, please contact David
Farrant for more details.
Abbreviations: GA – Great Abington, LA – Little Abington, LSA – Land Settlement
Association, GP – Granta Park
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