Amphibians and Reptiles
No sightings in January,
as expected so early in the year. However, from mid-February look out for Smooth
Newt in your ponds. If you don’t have a pond, it is very easy to make a small
one using an old washing-up bowl or similar. There are further details on the BBC
Springwatch website https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/gardening-for-wetlands/how-to-make-a-mini-wildlife-pond-from-an-upcycled-container/.
Birds
A total of 52 species were
reported in 362 records this month. Woodcock were again spotted around the edge
of Granta Park, with more reports of winter thrush, as well as a couple of ‘winter
finch’
Two reports of a Woodcock
again being seen flying around the eastern edge of Granta Park, so it seems
likely that one or two birds have a regular winter roost nearby.
Redwing are
around in larger numbers (10-20) at several sites mostly around the edges of
the villages, but including the field adjacent to Church Lane. Fieldfare
were also seen, with 10-20 being spotted in the Perse sports fields and perching
in trees behind Lewis Cres. Single reports of Song Thrush and Mistle
Thrush too, as well as Blackbird, all starting to sing.
A male Brambling
was briefly spotted on 11th, and a male Lesser Redpoll seen on 25th,
both on feeders in a Lewis Cres garden. There have been several reports of Blackcap
(both male and female) visiting feeders too (blog
item).
Good numbers of Goldfinch
(up to 22), Greenfinch (up to 6) and Chaffinch (up to 12) have regularly
visiting feeders, as have smaller numbers of Blue Tit and Great Tit,
alongside an occasional Coal Tit, or small flock of Long-tailed Tit.
One or two Wren were spotted in several gardens, as were a few Dunnock,
and more commonly small numbers of Robin. A pair of Goldcrest
were seen in conifers in one garden, and a Jay was quite often spotted in
several gardens.
Several pairs of Reed
Bunting were seen feeding with Chaffinch in the fields along Bourn Bridge
Rd, as were good numbers of Black-headed Gull with a few Lesser Black-backed
Gull and, unusually, about 40 Lapwing.
A Treecreeper
was seen in both Sluice Wood and South Wood, and both Green Woodpecker
and Great Spotted Woodpecker were spotted at several locations. A few Pied
Wagtail were seen in the paddocks on the LSA, and both Pheasant and Red-legged
Partridge were reported.
A Cormorant was seen flying over south
of Chalky Rd, and along the river, a Little Egret was seen (26th). In
GP, a Grey Heron was twice spotted around the lake, as were a few Mallard
and Moorhen, and five Barnacle Goose.
Red Kite were reported
nine times, mostly at locations around the edges of the villages, and 1-2 Buzzard
were seen around the north side of the villages. A Kestrel was spotted
on several occasions, and a female Sparrowhawk was seen taking a pigeon.
A Tawny Owl was again heard regularly calling at night around Lewis
Cres.
A Skylark was seen
on the LSA, and Stock Dove, Collared Dove, House Sparrow
and Starling were also all reported, as were Woodpigeon, Jackdaw,
Magpie, Rook and Carrion Crow.
Insects
A single insect report
this month: a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen in Great Abington
church on 15th. It had presumably been disturbed (woken?) from its hibernation
in the church by the heating being on that Sunday.
Mammals
Hare – one flushed
from the stubble field alongside Pampisford Rd, and seven seen in the field to
the east of Chalk Rd.
Badger – one dead
alongside Pampisford Rd near the junction with Cutting Rd.
Weather
More typical January weather
with 67 mm of rain and temperatures ranging from a low of minus 9.2 degrees C
on the 23rd, to a high of 13.1 degrees on the 3rd. The first two weeks of the
month were typical of the average, but followed by 12 days of very sharp frosts
and low daytime temperatures. Winds were
mainly southwesterly for the first two weeks, but then swinging from the north
and northwest until the end of the month.
No summary this
month for Flora or RiverCare.
Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for
January 2023:
Barry
Brooks, Lois Bull, David Farrant, Gaynor Farrant, Ros Hedge, Emma Jones, Len Mead, Andy Merryweather, Polly Merryweather, Nancy Ockendon, Freda Orgee,
Gareth Rees, Jade Taylor-Salazar, Sally Simmons, Gill Smith, John Turner,
Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.
