21st May 2022 - Polly M reported a brief visit from a Painted Lady butterfly to her garden today - the first report of the season. Since then, she saw one again in the garden on 22nd, and Andy M reported seeing one along the ORC.
It is too cold in the UK for this species to overwinter here, but adults migrating from their overwintering grounds in North Africa into northern Europe occasionally travel across the English Channel to appear here, in some years in quite large numbers.
17th May 2022 - our first trip of the year, to Beechwoods - the Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve just south of Cambridge. Six of us joined the walk through the woods in the warm sunny evening, the light on the fresh green leaves of the Beech trees contrasting with the dark branches.
The main reason for the visit was to see the White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonoium), a member of the orchid family, which prefers these shady conditions on chalky soils, often under Beech. At first only a few smaller specimens were seen, with some evidence that the flower heads may have been browsed by deer. Indeed an old meaning of the name Helleborine may refer to 'deer food'. Further into the woods though, and particularly in the more recently-planted more scrubby areas, the flower spikes were taller with more flowers on show.
Also seen were a good number of Hawkweed, most likely Spotted Hawkweed (Hieracium maculatum), also known as Common Hawkweed - although these can be difficult to identify at the species level.
14th May 2022 - whilst clearing some of the debris from his small pond, Andy M was happy to find that four Common Frog had take up residence, two large and two smaller ones.
13th May 2022 - a good variety of flowers are starting to appear along the Old Railway cutting now [Andy M]
12th May 2022 - Small Heath butterflies are starting to appear - this one was along the Roman Road [Andy M]
12th May 2022 - along the Roman Road, and elsewhere in the village, the webs and caterpillars of the Spindle Moth are again becoming very evident [Andy M].
15th May 2022 - Len M reported finding this large 'wasp' dead in his house - reported as being 30mm long. The size and continuous yellow 'head-band' make this most likely to be a Hornet.
10th May 2022 - the first House Martin of the year were seen flying over Great Abington today.
The two birds appeared to be feeding as they flew over the tree tops, and didn't appear to be in any hurry to go anywhere, but it's not clear whether these were 'local' birds that nest in the village, or were just passing through. [Andy M]
8th May 2022 - the Mandarin Duck continue to be seen on the river and in Granta Park. Up to four drakes (males) and probably two ducks (females) have been seen, with one duck seen sitting on nest, although it was not certain whether there were any eggs. David F took this lovely photo of one of the drakes near the GP lake.
4th May 2022 - the Cowslip were seen to be out in abundance along the Old Railway Cutting this week, and the Wych Elm seeds were looking good with their papery 'wing' [Andy M]
8th May 2022 - David F noted Red Campion, Common Storksbill and Forget-me-not in flower on Granta Park.
April 2022
Amphibians and Reptiles
Smooth Newt – at
least six spotted in a pond in LA. Three in Meadow Walk pond initially, increasing to twelve by mid-month.
Common Toad –
one seen crawling across a patio, in a LA garden.
Slow Worm –
desiccated skin found in a paddock on LSA
A total of 56 species
were seen or heard this month, in a total of 542 reports. The last of the
winter visitors were still around at the start of the month, but as the month
progressed more summer visitor started to arrive, although somewhat reluctantly
it seemed, due to cold weather and unfavourable winds.
A female Black
Redstart was seen feeding on North Rd, LSA on 18th. This scarce species
does occasionally nest in the UK, but is more generally seen as a migrant
passing through from the Mediterranean. Reported only twice before in the
Abingtons [link
to blog].
Last reports of two Redwing
and c20 Fieldfare on GP on 3rd, and a male Siskin was spotted
once on 6th in a Lewis Cres garden, the latter undoubtedly passing through.
The first Swallow
were seen on 13th, returning to their nest site in a barn on North Road. This
first report of the year is a couple of weeks later than previous years.
Of the warblers, Chiffchaff
continued to be heard around the village, joined by Blackcap which were heard
regularly from 3rd onwards. These singing males are likely to be recent
arrivals from southern Europe, displacing the over-wintering birds that will
mostly have returned to Europe to breed. Both Common Whitethroat and Lesser
Whitethroat were first heard along the Roman Road on 17th, and along the
ORC and LSA since.
Yellowhammer
and Corn Bunting were also both heard for the first time this year, from
10th, along the Roman Road and on the LSA. Skylark and Linnet
were also heard at the same locations.
Unusually, a pair of Mandarin
Duck were spotted on the river and in Sluice Wood on several occasions,
with a female reported nesting on GP. A pair of Mute Swan was seen on GP
lake, and more unusually along the river by the recreation ground. A Mallard
with 11 small duckling was seen on GP on 28th, and adult birds reported visiting
ponds in the village. A Little Egret was spotted near the river, and up
to 8 Canada Goose were reported in GP.
A Treecreeper
was spotted nest-building in a dead tree on GP, and a Nuthatch made a
welcome return to a garden on High St, LA. Great Spotted Woodpecker were
regularly seen on some gardens, and a male was heard drumming in Lewis Cres on
12th. Green Woodpecker were also reported on GP and in a Cambridge Rd
garden.
A Bullfinch was
spotted along the ORC, with Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch
continuing to be seen regularly. A pair of Long-tailed Tit started
nest-building on Lewis Cres, and were more widely seen around the villages, as
were a few Coal Tit. A Goldcrest was a reported once.
Pied Wagtail were
seen more regularly this month, largely on the recreation ground, and on the
LSA.
A Little Owl
was sadly found dead near the Millennium Bridge. One or two Buzzard, Kestrel
and Red Kite were regularly seen, with a Sparrowhawk reported on
three occasions.
Butterflies and
other insects
A number of warm,
sunny days, particularly around the third week, brought out the insects and
during April a total of 134 records were received (butterfly 117, bumblebee 12,
other 5).
Butterfly species
first reported this year during April were: Green-veined White (from 15th),
Holly Blue (from 15th, good numbers), Common Blue (16th, 1 report,
unusually early) and Speckled Wood (18th, 2 reports).
Good numbers continued
to be seen of Brimstone, Orange Tip (note very few females
reported), Peacock and Small White. In contrast, there were fewer
sightings in April than in March of Small Tortoiseshell and in particular
Comma.
Butterfly reports:
Brimstone 30, Orange Tip 23, Peacock 16, Holly Blue 15, Small White 15, Green-veined
White 9, Small Tortoiseshell 6, (others: Comma, Large White, Speckled Wood,
Common Blue - all fewer than 5 reports).
Mining Bee (Adrena
fulva) seen in good numbers in mid-April in Sluice Wood and some gardens. Bumblebees:
mainly Buff-tailed and White-tailed, but also some Red-tailed
were seen, and one report of Tree Bumblebee. Dark-edged Beefly and Ten-spot
Ladybird also reported.
Mammals
Badger – latrine
seen on the Rec on 28th.
Bat – possibly
Pipistrelle, above a Cambridge Road garden on 15th.
Fallow Deer –
six were seen in Hildersham Wood on 17th.
Field Vole –
two a Cambridge Rd garden, on 7th and 24th.
Fox – one along
the ORC on 18th, likely a dog fox due to its large size.
Hare – one on GP
on 3rd and 22nd, and one in Hildersham Wood on 17th.
Hedgehog – one
in a Meadow Walk garden on 5th, one in a Lewis Cres. garden on 13th, and two
caught on trail camera in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden throughout the last week of
April.
Mole – one
found dead on the Hairdresser path on 22nd, possibly killed by a cat.
Muntjac – one near the Sluice on 3rd, one in a High St. LA garden on 6th, one in Hildersham Wood on 17th, one in ORC on 18th, and one in Sluice Wood on 21st.
Flora
The following species
were reported in flower: Celandine, Sweet Violet, Ground Ivy,
Cherry-plum, Garlic Mustard, Cowslip, Blackthorn, Bluebell,
Forget-me-not, Snowflake, Crab Apple, Speedwell, Cow
Parsley, Shepherd’s Purse.
Weather
None of us need reminding that this has been an exceptionally dry month with well below average rainfall of only 10 mm, mostly in the first week of the month. The highest temperature was 25.3 degrees C recorded on the 15th, with a low of minus 5.7 degrees C on the 3rd. Overall wind speeds were average, but with a strong gale at the end of the first week.
1st May 2022 - News!
The first sighting this year of a Swift in Abington was reported today. Just one, flying low over Polly M's garden in Great Abington, heading north over the rest of the village. Maybe 'one of ours' that nest in the village, but equally likely to be a bird travelling through.
In recent previous years, Swift were first reported on 4th, 5th, 5th, 7th and 8th May - remarkably consistent given the distance they have travelled to get here!
Swallow were first spotted this year by Brian and Pamela P, who reported birds returning to their barn on the LSA on 13th April, and there have been several sightings around the LSA since. This is a week or two later than previous years - first reports on 2nd, 5th, 5th, 6th and 7th April - a delay this year in line with reports elsewhere in the UK .
As of 4th May, House Martin have yet to be spotted in the village this year. Again, this is late compared with previous years, when first reports in the village have been on 5th, 19th, 19th, 22nd and 23rd April. Again, this aligns with delayed arrivals across much of the UK.
.JPG)
26th April 2022 - there were a couple of surprise visitors to David F's garden on Bourn Bridge Road late one afternoon. A Mallard pair dropped in, had a nice swim in the pond, snacked on some 'duck weed', then settled down for a couple of hour's rest on the lawn ... It's a Duck's Life!
