April 2024 - Summary of Sightings around the Abingtons

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.