February 2024 - Summary of Sightings around the Abingtons

February 2024

Amphibians and Reptiles

Two Smooth Newt were seen on 10th in a pond on Pampisford Road, and a few days later Common Toad, Common Frog and newts were spotted in a large pond on Chalky Road. Common Toad were also seen crossing the road there to get to the pond, and so we’re rescued!

About five or six Smooth Newt were also found during cleaning of a Bourn Bridge Rd pond on 20th. One had a red spotted underbelly so a male. Please keep looking and report anything you see.

Frogspawn was spotted in a pond on Bourn Bridge Road on the 15th February, ten days earlier than last year.

 

Birds

A total of 52 species were reported this month in 243 records from 13 reporters. Most notable amongst these was a Barn Owl in GA church, Blackcap and Siskin being seen in gardens, and three Woodcock and a flock of Waxwing, both on GP.

A Barn Owl again found its way into GA church on 15th, presumably sheltering from the persistent rain this month (see blog). Following consultation with the Barn Owl Trust, it was encouraged to exit via the door, left open at dusk. A Tawny Owl were heard on 6th and 24th.

A flock of 20 Waxwing was seen in trees around a carpark on GP on 29th, the first record this year in the village, despite good numbers being seen around Cambridge in this ‘irruptive’ year (see blog).  Three Woodcock were also spotted one evening around the cricket pitch on GP (19th).

Redwing and Fieldfare were both reported twice, the latter along the ORC early in the month, and the former on GP and along Cambridge Rd on 25th. A Siskin, another winter visitor to Abington, was seen on feeders on Cambridge Rd and Bourn Bridge Rd on 18th and 27th – these being the first reports this winter in the village. A Blackcap was also seen in Sluice Wood, these most often also being winter visitors from Europe.

On GP lake, two pairs of Mandarin Duck were seen on the river, and on the adjacent flooded fields, a flock of Black-headed Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Grey Heron were seen on 11th, and on the lake, a two Cormorant and a Moorhen joined the Mallard there. A Reed Bunting was heard singing from the reeds, and a small flock of Meadow Pipit were seen.

Up to three Buzzard were spotted around the village, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were both seen several times, and a Red Kite was noted twice. A Raven was also seen flying over the ORC.

Up to four Magpie were seen widely, and 1-2 Jay were seen on GP (see blog) and in a Cambridge Rd garden, as was a Red-legged Partridge on two occasions. A Pheasant was seen along the ORC, and Skylark were heard singing both along the ORC and along North Rd. Song Thrush were also regularly heard singing around the villages, often throughout the day.

A Goldcrest was seen at Hall Farm, and both Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard drumming) were reported from GP and 1-2 gardens. A few Pied Wagtail were seen on GP and the Perse sports fields, and 1-2 Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird and Wren were spotted at several locations.

Reasonable numbers of Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch were seen in several gardens, as were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit. House Sparrow were seen in three gardens, and a murmuration of c400 Starling was seen over North Rd on 20th.

 

Butterflies and other Insects

The first butterfly record of the year was of a Brimstone on 12th along Church Lane, shortly followed by two further reports of this species on 15th. A Peacock was also spotted hibernating on 15th.

There were five reports of a Buff-tailed Bumblebee between 10th and 15th, and some Honeybee activity was seen around the hives on GP on 13th.

 

Flora and Fungi

Snowdrop and Aconite continued to bloom well in Granta Park around the sluice (see blog), and the Cherry Plum came into flower later in the month.

 

Mammals

Fallow Deer – two seen along ORC on 18th.

Muntjac – one seen in a Cambridge Rd garden on 2nd and again on 12th.

Rabbit – two spotted in GA churchyard on 16th, and one in Sluice Wood on 24th.

 

Weather

A wet month, with 114mm, three times the average February rainfall, causing the river to flood again (see blog). This may well become a more regular feature with climate change. The highest temperature was 16.3°C on both 14th and 19th, with the lowest temperature being minus 1.8 C on 24th. Overall February was a mild month with average temperatures of around 12°C. Winds were generally from a westerly to south westerly direction.

 

ANW Trips

A small group visited WWT Welney on 3rd, spotting a total of 32 bird species (see blog).

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for February 2024.
Darren Bast, David & Gaynor Farrant, Betsy Gutteridge, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Joan Nevin, Nancy Ockendon, Brian Parris, Barbara Phippen, Gareth Rees, Gill Smith, Jade Taylor-Salazar, Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.