Amphibians and Reptiles
A Common Frog seen on a regular basis in a pond in Bourn Bridge Road, and three Common Frog were also noted together with 20+ adult and eft Smooth Newt on Church Lane whilst clearing algae from the pond. Numerous Smooth Newt were also seen in a pond on Bourn Bridge Rd, as well as dragonfly nymphs. Please remember to report in your sightings as Gaynor seems sure there are a lot more amphibians around.
Birds
A total of 52 species were recorded in 373 reports this month, from ten reporters. A Quail was heard calling over Lewis Cres one evening. There was also an unverified report of a Cetti’s Warbler calling at night. Two Spotted Flycatcher were seen, as were as both Nuthatch and Treecreeper, and there were several sightings of a Kingfisher along the river.
The characteristic ‘wet-m-lips’ call of a Quail was heard at 11pm over Lewis Cres on 20th. This represents the first record of this species in the Abingtons and is believed to be a migrating bird. Similarly, a dispersing Cetti’s Warbler may have been heard calling from the river one evening (24th) but this report remains tentative.
An adult and juvenile Spotted Flycatcher were seen feeding near the river on GP (10th), the only reports this year, and a Kingfisher was spotted both near Bourn Bridge and the Sluice on 10th (same bird?), as well as near Bourn Bridge on 26th. A Little Egret was also seen along the river by the recreation ground. A Nuthatch continues to be seen in a LA High St garden, and a Treecreeper was again spotted at Hall Farm.
Young Swallow were reported in the nest on 2nd, and flocks of 10-20 were reported on the LSA, as well as lower numbers elsewhere. Good numbers (20-30) of House Martin were seen gathering at several sites throughout the month, with 50+ seen feeding over Lewis Cres on 11th. Chiffchaff and Blackcap continue to be reported occasionally, and a Reed Warbler was seen in the reedbed around the GP lake.
On GP lake, three Barnacle Goose were joined by a pair of Little Grebe, and a pair of Great Crested Grebe with a juvenile. Two female Mandarin Duck were also seen there, along with a further five female/young on the river in Lagdens’ Grove. Around 12 Mallard in eclipse plumage, several Moorhen and two Grey Heron were also spotted there.
A noisy Buzzard was frequently reported overhead, this likely to be a dispersing juvenile, and two were seen at Hall Farm. A Red Kite was also regularly seen, with a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk being more occasionally spotted, and a Tawny Owl heard near the High St. Both Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were regularly reported at a variety of sites. A few Pied Wagtail were seen on the LSA, as well as a flock of 10 flying over Lewis Cres on several evenings. A Goldcrest was seen on Hall farm, and Jay and Song Thrush seen at several sites. A ‘mischief’ of a dozen Magpie was also spotted chasing off a squirrel on Hall Farm.
Butterflies and other Insects
A total of 178 reports of insects/invertebrates were received in August, slightly fewer than for June (184 reports) and July (254 reports).
Butterflies - seventeen species of butterfly were seen this month with the most frequently reported species being Meadow Brown (21 reports) and both Large White and Small White (18 and 22 reports). Gatekeeper numbers were also good (12 reports), with several individuals often seen at once. Brimstone was seen frequently in the early months of the year, but was spotted only four times in August, largely due to the new season’s brood having not yet all hatched. A species not yet reported this year was a single Small Copper seen on 10th on Granta Park. Butterfly numbers this year have been reported to be generally good nationwide, following a bad butterfly year in 2024, However some species seem to have faired less well in our area. Species reported only once this month were Holly Blue, Small Heath and, rather surprisingly, Small Tortoiseshell. There were also only two reports of Painted Lady, another species often seen more frequently.
Odonata - six damselfly & dragonfly species were seen in 10 reports. The only damselflies were Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly, both seen on Granta Park on 10th. Of the dragonflies, Common Darter was reported from three locations including Granta Park, and a possible sighting of Ruddy Darter was also reported. Broad-bodied Chaser was seen on Granta Park on 10th and a Southern Hawker in a Lewis Cres garden on 6th. Two reports of an unidentified dragonfly were also received.
Bees - Buff-tailed, White-tailed and Red-tailed Bumblebee continue to be seen regularly and there was also single reports of both Tree Bumblebee and Common Carder Bee.
Others - two striking moth species have been reported several times this month; the Hummingbird Hawkmoth (17 reports throughout the month) and the Jersey Tiger Moth, a dramatic black, white and red species (7 reports). Other notable species reported were European Hornet seen in several gardens, and a Wasp Spider, a strikingly striped female and much smaller male, on the LSA on 4th.
Mammals
Bat – several seen regularly throughout the month over a Bourn Bridge Rd garden, as well as over gardens on Cambridge Rd and High Street, GA.
Field Mouse – one ran across in front of a person running on 12th in LA.
Hare – one seen in the meadow near Illumina on 10th, and one in a field by Pampisford Rd on 12th.
Muntjac - heard in a High St, GA garden throughout the month.
Stoat – one was seen on 17th and 24th in a Cambridge Rd garden.
Weather
At long last some rain! A total of 27.5mm, most of which fell in the last four days of the month. The average for August is just under 60mm. The highest temperature was 34.9 degrees C (12th) and the lowest 5.8 degrees C (22nd). Winds were generally light and from a west to south-westerly direction, though northerlies persisted for a week mid-month.
NatureWatch events
The River Sampling group met on 21st (see blog for results), and our final trip of the year planned along The Roman Road was cancelled. The full programme can be viewed on the ANW blog here, 2025 Programme Link.
Many thanks to all those who contributed their sightings this month.
Roger Dufresne, David & Gaynor Farrant, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Joan Nevin, Barbara Phippen, Marion Rusted, Gill Smith, Suzan Stewart, John & Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.
Abbreviations: GA - Great Abington, LA – Little Abington, LSA – Land Settlement Association, GP – Granta Park, ORC – Old Railway Cutting, AbPkFm – Abington Park Farm.
