April 2024
Amphibians
and Reptiles
A few sightings, but fewer
than expected for this time of year, perhaps due to the spell of colder
weather. Smooth Newt were seen in several ponds on Bourn Bridge Rd,
mostly towards the end of the month (see
blog). A Common Toad was seen in a Lewis Cres garden on the 17th,
and four Common Frog were seen there on 30th, as well as on Chalky Road.
Birds
A total of 54 species were
reported this month in 456 records from 14 reporters. As the last few Siskin
retreated north, the first Swallow was seen. Chiffchaff and Blackcap continued
to sing, joined by Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler this month, and the first
Kingfisher of the year was spotted.
The last of the winter
visitors, a few Siskin were seen in Lewis Cres early in the month, with
single birds seen on 30th in Moorefield and on the LSA.
The harbinger of
summer, a Swallow, was first spotted on 10th on the LSA (a few days
earlier than 2023, but around the average over the last ten years), with birds
returning to their nesting sites on North and South Rds on 29th. Blackcap
and Chiffchaff were both widely heard singing throughout the month, as
well as a Willow Warbler heard on the ORC and LSA on 10th (see
blog), and a Garden Warbler reported in South Grove on 14th.
A Kingfisher
was spotted along the river from the Millennium Bridge (26th), the first report
this year, and Treecreeper was heard on two occasions, in Sluice Wood
and Lagden’s Grove. A pair of Mandarin Duck were seen in Lagden’s Grove
and, unusually, on the river in the recreation ground (7th). A Moorhen
with four chicks was reported on a large pond on Chalky Rd on 25th, and an
adult Robin with three fledged young were seen on Lewis Cres on 20th (see
blog).
On Granta Park, A Little
Grebe, a pair of Canada Goose, six Greylag, a Moorhen
and a few mostly male Mallard were seen around the lake, as well as
three Reed Bunting in the reedbed. A few Pied Wagtail scampered
around the cricket green, alongside a Lesser Black-backed Gull. The
latter also being seen on the Perse sports fields (23rd). A Grey Heron,
two Red-legged Partridge and a Pheasant were also seen on GP, as
well as at a number of other locations.
One of two Buzzard
were widely spotted, with a pair reported with young in the nest in Westfield. Red
Kite were also regularly seen, and there were four reports of a Kestrel at
various sites, and a male Sparrowhawk, in a Cambridge Rd garden. A Green
Woodpecker was reported three times, and both male and female Great
Spotted Woodpecker were seen on Cambridge Rd.
Early in the month, a
Skylark could be heard singing above the ORC, LSA and Lewis Cres, A flock
of 32 Linnet was seen on GP, with lower numbers also on the LSA, where a
single Corn Bunting and a Yellowhammer were also seen. Both Blackbird
and Song Thrush were also regularly heard throughout the month, and a Mistle
Thrush was seen in the field adjacent to Church Lane on 16th.
Blue Tit, Great
Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Coal Tit were all regularly seen,
with Blue Tit seen entering nestboxes on Lewis Cres. A few Chaffinch,
Greenfinch, and up to six Goldfinch were regularly reported, as
were singing Dunnock and Wren. One or two Magpie were
regularly seen in gardens, as were a few House Sparrow and Starling
more occasionally, and a Goldcrest was spotted on Hall Farm.
Stock Dove and Collared
Dove were reported in gardens, as were increasing numbers of Feral
Pigeon. Rook, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw were also
reported.
Butterflies
and other Insects
Whilst a little chilly
for much of the month, a total of 91 sightings were reported in April, with 64
of those being butterflies, and 35 bees. Brimstone and Peacock
were both seen regularly in the first half of the month, then again at the end,
with 14 and 13 reports, respectively. Small White were also seen fairly
often with 8 reports, with Comma only being seen in the first week.
This month, several
species were recorded for the first time this year: Orange Tip, Red
Admiral, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White and Small
Tortoiseshell all first appeared between 7th and 10th (see
blog), Holly Blue were seen from 12th onwards, a single Painted
Lady was seen on 13th, and Large White from 21st. Both Holly Blue
and Orange Tip in particular seem to be quite abundant this year.
A Large Red Damselfly
was seen on 30th in a Cambridge Rd garden, the first damselfly of the year (see
blog). Buff-tailed, White-tailed and Red-tailed
Bumblebee were all reported throughout the month, with Hairy-footed
Flower Bee seen early on, followed by Tree Bumblebee and Tawny
Mining Bee both seen around 21st (see
blog).
A Hummingbird
Hawkmoth was spotted on 5th in a garage, this being an early sighting for
this species which generally arrives in the UK in May/June, but occasionally can
over-winter here as pupae (see
blog). Seven-spot, Two-spot and Pine Ladybird were
all reported, as were Dark-edged Beefly (see
blog).
Mammals
Bat – several
regularly throughout the month over a Cambridge Rd garden.
Hare – Five in
a field near Hildersham Wood on 10th, and one in a field off Chalky Road on
20th.
Hedgehog – up
to three seen regularly on a trail camera in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden.
Muntjac – one
spotted regularly in a Cambridge Road garden, and one in Sluice Wood on 3rd.
Flora
and Fungi
The Garlic Mustard
was prolific in Sluice Wood, where a few late Celandine were still in
flower. The first flowering spikes of Wild Arum were appearing, and Ground
Ivy, Common Storksbill and Cowslip were putting on a good
show (see
blog). Common Comfrey, Green Alkanet, White Deadnettle
(see
blog) and Wood Forget-me-not were also in flower in ‘the
triangle’ off the High St, and in Sluice Wood (see
blog). Early Forget-me-not, Mouse-ear Chickweed and Dove’s-foot
Crane’s-bill were seen on GP on 30th, along with Common Storksbill and Daisy (see
blog).
Weather
Back to well over
normal rainfall for the month, with 65.25 mm recorded. The highest temperature
was 22.9 degrees C on both 12th and 13th with the lowest being minus 1.9
degrees C on the 26th. Winds were in a south-westerly direction for the first
part of April, then swinging into the north.
ANW
Programme
Those on the trip to RSPB Fowlmere on 24th April were treated to
sightings of a Cuckoo, Swallow and a Water Vole, as well as several warblers (see blog). Our
monthly River Sampling started on 22nd April (see blog), with the
next session on 17th May. The next trip is to Paxton Pits on 22nd May. The
full Abington NatureWatch 2024 Programme can be found here (Prog link).
Many thanks to all those who contributed
reports of their sightings for April 2024.
Peter
Brunning, Audrey Bugg, David & Gaynor Farrant, Andrew Gamble, Janet
Gerrard, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Sam Murphy, Joan Nevin, Nancy
Ockendon, Brian Parris, Barbara Phippen, Sally Simmons, Gill and Richard Smith,
Jade Taylor-Salazar, Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.
