October 2020
Amphibians and Reptiles
No sightings reported during October.
Birds
Summer visitors – House Martin – several above field between Cambridge Road and Church Lane (2nd), with two near AbPkFm (7th). Swallow – loose group of 5-6 (5th) and a single bird (7th), all near AbPkFm and heading determinedly south. Last report was of a single bird over High Street LA on 10th. Blackcap – one in Lewis Crescent garden on 9th - whilst most likely a ‘late’ summer visitor, some Blackcap also migrate to winter the UK from Europe.
Winter visitors – Redwing
– small flock of c10 first reported on 12th, flying over ORC. Fieldfare – small flock of c6 flew over
Lewis Crescent (12th and 17th), and flock of c30 near AbPkFm
(14th). Both species also reported
since, feeding on berries along ORC and on LSA.
Winter flocks of Skylark
(c20-50) and Linnet (c50-80) starting to gather on ploughed fields south
of Chalky Road, and a few Meadow Pipit starting to be seen along ORC. Small flocks of Great Black-backed Gull,
and a few Black-headed Gull, feeding in freshly ploughed fields around
LSA.
A number of species starting
to return regularly to garden feeders – Great Tit and Blue Tit,
as well as an occasional Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit reported. A
few Greenfinch and Chaffinch being seen more regularly, alongside
larger numbers of Goldfinch. Regular
reports of Robin often heard singing, and Dunnock. Noticeable absence of Blackbird or Song
Thrush in gardens this month. Bullfinch
– male seen along ORC.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
–
regular visits by a female and a juvenile to a Cambridge Road garden, and other
reports of birds returning to garden feeders after a few weeks away. Green Woodpecker – occasional reports. Nuthatch – one seen on garden
feeder after a long absence on High St, LA.
Jay – regularly seen
this month in several gardens, collecting and stashing acorns.
Tawny Owl – a good
number of reports of male and female calling in the early hours throughout the
month, including Cambridge Road, Sluice Wood, Church Lane, Abington Wood and LSA. Barn Owl – one heard screeching along
ORC (15th).
Sparrowhawk – several
reports of birds returning to gardens to hunt around garden feeders; one bird seen
purposefully crashing through a House Sparrow colony.
Red Kite – one flying low,
searching for carrion over Lewis Crescent and High St, before heading south towards
Chalky Road (6th). Further sightings
later in the month along ORC.
Buzzard – three near
Hildersham Wood, and 1-2 regularly reported from ORC and LSA.
Grey Heron – one likely
immature bird seen again in Cambridge Road garden. Little Egret – reports of 1-2 in
the river near Millennium Bridge, and in Sluice Wood. Cormorant – single
bird seen flying over near AbPkFm.
Grey Wagtail – single female along river edge by recreation ground (9th), and one visiting a Cambridge Road garden.
Pied Wagtail
– small groups on cricket ground, and unusually large flock of c30-50 on Perse
playing fields (17th, 25th)
Goldcrest – seen and
heard in conifers along Cambridge Road.
Wren – a pair noted near a garden pond on LA High Street.
Butterflies,
Bees and other insects
October was
a poor month for invertebrates, with only 5 reports in total. The weather being
very variable with a great deal of rain and strong winds
Red Admiral 2
Peacock 1
Brimstone 1
Southern Hawker 1
Mammals
Bat – several still flying in North Road and Cambridge Road, despite the lateness of the year.
Fallow deer – one on boundary of South Grove wood sporting a fine set of well-developed antlers
Fox – old dog fox seen sunning himself in ORC.
Hedgehog – a regular visitor to a garden in South Road.
Muntjac - one seen in Lewis Crescent.
Flora & Fungi
No sightings reported during October.
Rivercare
The team carried out a
late-season sampling session on 6th October with Ruth Hawksley observing and
assisting, as our previous session had been so disappointing, and we needed to
check whether the situation was so serious that the EA needed to investigate. The EA is of course aware of the dire state
of the Granta from its own sampling in Linton and Stapleford.
The ‘repeat’ results were
better, but not good. However, we have little experience of sampling this late
in the year. Anyway, our result was above the trigger level, so we’re out of
special measures!
Since then, the water
level in the river has remained low until the recent rains. We’ve seen some
good flows in the last week, notably when we did our monthly litter pick last
Monday, when the level was high, nearing the bridge deck level, though not high
enough to flood. Litter was low, and we noted a lot of debris and excess weed
had disappeared from the river.
Weather
The rainfall for October was 111.25mm - so a wet one! The highest temperature was 19.5 degrees on the 20th and the lowest was 3.4 degrees on the 15th, though overall temperatures were on or above average for October.
Please email your sightings, within the Abington parishes, to the relevant ANW Recorder:
Abbreviations:
GA – Great Abington, LA – Little Abington, LSA – Land Settlement Association,
GP – Granta Park, ORC – Old Railway Cutting. AbPkFm – Abington Park Farm
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