21st November 2024 - a good-sized flock of around 150 Golden Plover and about 100 Lapwing were seen swirling above the fields adjacent to the Old Railway Cutting by Andy M and John T recently. Not usually seen this close to the village, they settled in a newly-sown field and spread out to feed.
21st November 2024 - Andy M spotted a number of mammal species along the Old Railway Cutting and on the Settlements recently, including Rabbit, Grey Squirrel and a good-sized herd of Fallow Deer.
21st November 2024 - Andy M spotted a small flock of Redwing along Chalky Rd recently. This thrush species, along with the Fieldfare, visit the UK from Scandinavia during the winter.
20th November 2024 - Emma J spotted this rather lovely pink fungus recently, possibly the Wrinkled Pink Fungus (Rhodotus palmatus).
17th November 2024 - Polly M took a short walk around the village, noting the gorgeous autumn leaf colours and clear blue skies.
18th November 2024 - unusually, Andy M had a visit from both Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit, in amongst a mixed-species tit flock consisting mostly of Blue Tit and Great Tit.
The Coal Tit, the smallest tit species in the UK, has a characteristic white stripe on the back of a head and pale rusty flanks, and is often be associated with conifers where it feeds on seeds from cones. Long-tailed Tit often fly around in small groups, and have a characteristic long tail and pale pink colouration.
8th November 2024 - Andy M spotted a pair of Blackcap in his garden recently, feeding on the small red Euonymus berries. The male of this warbler species has a black 'cap', and the female has a rusty red 'cap'. At this time of year, these individuals are likely to be winter visitors from mainland Europe.
October 2024
Amphibians
and Reptiles
Just two sightings of
a Common Frog in Lewis Cres around mid-month (see
blog).
Birds
A total of 46 species reported
this month in 262 records. A Redwing was seen at the end of the month,
and Blackbird returned to gardens in good numbers to fest on berries. A
few winter migrant Blackcap were also seen.
A Redwing was seen
on 30th on the LSA, and whilst Fieldfare have yet to be seen
in the parishes, they have been reported just north of here. The number of Blackbird
visiting some gardens rose noticeably this month, especially where there are berry-bearing
bushes.
A male Blackcap
was seen twice, on 29th and 31st, feeding on berries in a Lewis Cres garden. These
birds are likely to be migrants arriving here from eastern Europe, whereas the
birds that bred here in the summer will have migrated to southern Europe.
A few Chaffinch
were seen under feeders, after an absence of several months from some gardens. Goldfinch
were also noted in good numbers (up to 12), alongside a few Greenfinch. Several
Blue Tit and Great Tit were often seen, with 1-2 Coal Tit
appearing in several gardens, and small flocks of Long-tailed Tit spotted
along the ORC, Sluice Wood and in a few gardens.
One or two Jay were
seen regularly visiting several gardens, often collecting acorns. Goldcrest
were spotted at several locations, with Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green
Woodpecker spotted around Hall Farm and on Granta Park. Robin, Dunnock
and Wren were often reported, and a Song Thrush was spotted once
on Lewis Cres.
On Granta Park, two Little
Grebe remain on the lake, alongside a few Moorhen and up to 40 Mallard.
Eight Barnacle Goose were seen on the cricket field, as were a number
of Pied Wagtail (also spotted in a Moorefield garden). A Grey Heron
was reported on Bancroft Meadow, as well as flying over Lewis Cres, and interestingly,
two Egyptian Goose were seen on Grange Farm. A few Black-headed Gull
were spotted on GP, and small groups of gull, including Lesser Black-backed
Gull were seen in local fields.
Up to three Buzzard
were spotted at a number of sites, as were Red Kite with six being seen
over the LSA on 16th. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were each reported
twice, and Tawny Owl continue to be heard occasionally.
Around a dozen Linnet
were seen on GP, as well as on the LSA, and Meadow Pipit were also
spotted on the LSA and along the ORC, where a group of Red-legged Partridge
were also seen. Collared Dove were reported just twice, and Stock
Dove just three times, whereas Feral Pigeon seem to be on the
increase.
Butterflies
and other Insects
Unsurprisingly, just
20 reports this month, these being mostly butterfly sightings.
Five butterfly species
were spotted in October. The majority of sightings were of Red Admiral, which
migrate south, back over the channel at this time of year, although some may
over-winter here. Several Large White were seen, as well as an
occasional Brimstone, and single reports of both Comma and Speckled
Wood, the latter likely to be from an unusual third brood of the year.
Total butterfly
reports received in October were: Red Admiral (7), Large White (3), Brimstone (2),
Comma (1), Speckled Wood (1), and unidentified ‘small white’ (2).
There were just two
reports of a Hawker dragonfly (6th and 16th), thought to be Southern
Hawker, although Migrant Hawker tend to be the predominant odonata
species late in the year.
Two reports of a Hummingbird
Hawkmoth in Lewis Cres on 7th and 18th.
Mammals
Fallow Deer – six
females/young and one well-antlered stag were seen along the ORC on 24th, and a
stag (likely the same one) was seen in a field off Chalky Road on 26th.
Hare
– one seen in Granta Park on 19th.
Hedgehog – evidence in a Bourn
Bridge Rd garden throughout October.
Muntjac – one in
a Cambridge Rd garden on 25th.
Field Vole –
one spotted in a garden compost heap on Lewis Cres on 11th.
Flora
and Fungi
A few fungi were
spotted on GP, and whilst identifying the species can be difficult, they were
thought to be Shaggy Inkcap, Fairy Inkcap, an Agaricus
species, a Mycena species, and a Trametes species
of bracket fungus (see
blog). A good-sized Giant
Puffball was also seen in Sluice Wood (see
blog).
Weather
The total rainfall was
54.5 mm, which is slightly below average. The highest temperature was 23.8
degrees C on the 16th and the lowest was minus 1.3 degrees C on the 11th. Temperatures
over the whole month were generally mild, and winds were mainly from a
southerly direction, so feeling very pleasant. As a result, there seem to be quite
a few wild flowers still in bloom, and the trees are starting to show their
autumnal colours (see
blog). The village was also given a lovely display of the Northern
Lights on 10th (see
blog).
Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for October 2024.
Tricia Cullimore, David & Gaynor Farrant, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Joan Nevin, Barbara Phippen, Gill and Richard Smith, Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.
23rd October 2024 - David F spotted this Giant Puffball fungus in Sluice Wood recently. These large fruiting bodies start out white, slowly maturing to brown, before 'puffing out' their spores to be dispersed by the wind.
19th October 2024 - Andy M spotted a few fungi whilst walking around Granta Park. Whilst it can be hard to definitively identify fungus species, these are thought to be Shaggy Inkcap, an Agaricus species, Fairy Inkcap, a Trametes species bracket fungus, and a species of Bonnet, Mycena.
19th October 2024 - the combination of a few chillier nights and a bright sunny day has transformed the trees into a riot of autumnal colour.
15th October 2024 - in the rather damp weather one evening, Andy M spotted a Common Frog hopping around outside his back door.
10th October 2024 - those around in the evening, and able to see the dark sky to the north would have been able to see a rather lovely display of the Northern Lights over the village. A dramatic red splash was visible to the east, with lovely yellows and greens to the north, with a hint of the the characteristic 'curtains' near the horizon. All rather ethereal.
