June 2024 - Summary of Sightings around the Abingtons

June 2024

Amphibians and Reptiles

Sporadic sightings of Smooth Newt in a pond on Bourn Bridge Rd, and another was reported from Cambridge Road on the 30th. Two Common Lizard and two Common Toad reported from Chalky Road at the beginning of the month.

 

Birds

A total of 59 species were spotted this month in 364 records. Swallow, Swift and House Martin continued to be seen, and a few warblers could be heard singing. Two Lesser Redpoll were also believed to have been spotted, an unusual species to been seen here in the summer.

A few Swift have been regularly spotted throughout the month, with a group of 8-10 heard screaming both around Hall Farm, where they are nesting, and LA church. Up to eight Swallow have been seen around the LSA where they are known to have chicks in the nest, and a few were seen drinking from GP lake. House Martin have also been spotted in small groups of up to six, with occupied nests reported from three locations around the villages.

Both Blackcap and Chiffchaff were often heard around the villages, and at least one Reed Warbler was heard singing from the reedbed on GP. A Common Whitethroat was seen gathering food along the ORC, presumably to feed young, and unusually a Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing around Church Lane and in a Lewis Crescent garden.

A pair of Lesser Redpoll are believed to have been spotted in a Chalky Rd garden (unverified). Whilst often visiting here in winter, they are not usually seen here over the summer, although there was a report from LA in July 2019, and they are known to breed around Thetford.

On GP lake, five Barnacle Goose and a Greylag were seen alongside a total of 22 Canada Goose, including up to 11 goslings. A family of two adult Little Grebe with 1-2 young were regularly seen, and a single Great Crested Grebe was reported until mid-month. A Mandarin Duck, several Reed Bunting, a Moorhen and a few Mallard were reported by the lake, and a Grey Wagtail was spotted gathering food there (see blog), with another seen along the river by the recreation garden. A Grey Heron was reported both on GP and around Moorefield. 

Yellowhammer and Skylark were both spotted along the ORC, and a few Linnet were seen on rough ground on GP. Pied Wagtail were regularly reported from the LSA, including some with young, and Mistle Thrush were seen along Church Lane and on the Perse sports fields, as well as being seen with young along North Rd. Song Thrush were reported several times.

A Jay was spotted along Cambridge Rd and on GP, and a Red-legged Partridge was reported from a Church Lane garden. A Green Woodpecker was seen in a Cambridge Rd garden, with a Great Spotted Woodpecker also being seen there as well as along Bourn Bridge Rd.

One, occasionally two, Buzzard and Red Kite were both regularly seen, with a pair of Kestrel seen with two young along Bourn Bridge Rd, and a Sparrowhawk was reported twice. A Goldcrest was occasionally reported, and a small flock of Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gull was seen on the Perse sports fields.

A few Stock Dove and Collared Dove were seen at several locations, and it was observed that the number of Feral Pigeon seen locally seems to be on the increase.

 

Butterflies and other Insects

A total of 81 sightings were reported in June, most of those being butterflies (47), but also including a few odonata (10) and bee (13) reports.

Meadow Brown and Brimstone were the most commonly reported, with 13 and 9 reports respectively, then Holly Blue with four reports, all early in the month. The other eleven species were all reported between 1-3 times. Of the species seen for the first time this year, Common Blue was first reported on 8th then again towards the end of the month, Marbled White was first spotted on 25th, and Small Skipper was seen just once on 23rd (see blog).

Total numbers of butterfly reports received were: Meadow Brown (13), Brimstone (9), Holly Blue (4), Common Blue and Marbled White (both 3), Comma, Green-veined White, Small Heath, Small White and Speckled White (all 2), and Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Skipper and Small Tortoiseshell (all 1).

With the exception of a Large Red Damselfly which was seen on 9th, all odonata reports came later in the month. A Southern Hawker was seen for the first time this year on 23rd on Cambridge Rd and again on 27th when it was seen emerging from the pond there (see blog). Both Broad-bodied Chaser and Common Blue Damselfly were both seen along Church Lane on 21st (see blog), and both again on GP on 25th, and Banded Demoiselle were seen on 25th and 27th. A Small Red Damselfly was also reported on 21st, but this requires verification as this scarce species is generally restricted to heathland bogs along the south coast and in Wales.

Both Buff-tailed Bumblebee and White-tailed Bumblebee were widely reported, with Common Carder Bee seen along Bourn Bridge Rd and Cambridge Rd. Tawny Mining Bee and Tree Bumblebee were also spotted, as was a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly.

 

Mammals

Bat - several seen regularly throughout the month, probably Pipistrelle and Serotine, in a Cambridge Rd garden.

Fox – one dead by side of Newmarket Rd on 15th.

Hedgehog – evidence in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden, and in a Lewis Cres garden, throughout the month, and one seen in second Bourn Bridge Rd garden on 13th.

Muntjac - one regularly seen in a Cambridge Rd garden, and one in Sluice Wood on 9th.

 

Flora and Fungi

Good numbers of Bee Orchid were reported on GP (see blog), as well as one along the PRV (see blog). Southern Marsh Orchid and Pyramidal Orchid were also seen on GP.

Other flora species reported along the ORC were: Rough Chervil, Oxeye Daisy, Perforate St John’s Wort, Hairy St John’s Wort, Common Centaury, Dark Mullein, Meadow Vetchling, Common Agrimony, Tufted Vetch, Common Mignonette, Creeping Thistle, Ragwort, Wild Marjoram, Hop Clover, Hemlock, Scarlet Pimpernel, Cow Parsnip, Hedge Bedstraw, Bramble (see blog).

Additional species seen on GP were: Viper’s Bugloss, White Campion, Small Scabious, Kidney Vetch, Bird’s foot Trefoil, Ladies’ Bedstraw, Black Medick, Red Clover (see blog).

 

Weather

At last, a month with slightly under average rainfall, amounting to 29 mm in total, but in fact, three weeks of the month were dry. The highest temperature was at the end of the month with 32.7 degrees C recorded, and the lowest was 3.4 degrees C on the 5th. Overall daytime temperatures were low to mid twenties.

 

ANW Programme

The results of the late May Abington Bird Survey indicated a total of 59 species (see blog for report). River Sampling took place on 27th June (see blog for results), and an evening walk around Granta Park on 22nd was attended by ten members (see blog). Upcoming items in July include visits to RSPB Lakenheath Fen on 13th and Fleam Dyke on 27th, as well as river sampling on 22nd. The full NatureWatch 2024 Programme can be found here (Prog link).

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for June 2024.

Peter Brunning, Judy Davies, David & Gaynor Farrant, Janet Gerrard, Gordon and Carolyn Hannah, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Mary Miles, Joan Nevin, Nancy Ockendon, Barbara Phippen, Gill and Richard Smith, Suzan Stewart, Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.