Snowdrop and Aconite in flower

2nd February 2025 - David F saw these Snowdrop and Aconite in flower near the sluice on GP.

Ruddy Shelduck on GP

2nd February 2025 - David F spotted a female Ruddy Shelduck on GP lake recently, along with a Greylag. 

The Ruddy Shelduck, which was also spotted on GP lake a couple of times last year, is a non-native species which was originally brought from Asia into private collections. However, escapees have been recorded in the UK since the 1950s, and these may well have gone on to establish a naturalised population. Non-native naturalised birds also reach the UK from the near continent, where sizeable populations now exist.

January 2025 - Sightings Highlights from around the Abingtons

Highlights for January 2025

Amphibians and Reptiles

No reported sightings.

 

Birds

A total of 45 species were reported this month in 319 records.

A Nuthatch was seen in a Cambridge Rd garden for the first time, and a pair of Blackcap was feeding on euonymus berries on Lewis Cres. A few Redwing were feeding on berries at Hall Farm (see blog) and along the High St, whilst Fieldfare were seen at Hall Farm and along North Rd (25). Good numbers of Blue Tit were regularly reported in gardens, alongside fewer Great Tit, Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit, as well as up to 13 Goldfinch, five Greenfinch and interestingly up to ten Chaffinch. A Goldcrest and a Wren were also occasionally spotted.

A Green Woodpecker was seen for the first time in a while in two gardens (see blog), with the absence of this normally regular visitor being noted in other gardens, whilst a Great Spotted Woodpecker was spotted in three gardens, and a Jay or two were fairly regularly seen. Song Thrush, Robin and Great Tit could all be heard singing around mid-month, and Tawny Owl could regularly be heard hooting from several locations.

A female/juvenile Sparrowhawk was seen in two gardens (see blog), and a Kestrel was reported around Moorefield, whilst a Buzzard and a Red Kite were reported at several sites. A few Stock Dove were regulars in several gardens, with a Collared Dove being more occasionally.

On Granta Park, eight Barnacle Goose, a Cormorant, a Moorhen and a Mute Swan were seen around the frozen lake, with c20 Mallard and a Grey Heron seen along the river. A flock of c60 Starling seen are believed to roost in the reedbeds, whilst Fieldfare, Redwing and a Mistle Thrush were spotted in Lagden’s Grove, with 13 Pied Wagtail seen on the cricket green.

 

Butterflies and other Insects

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee was seen busily buzzing around a Lewis Cres garden on 20th.

 

Flora and Fungi

First signs of Snowdrop and Aconite flowers reported on 12th near the sluice on GP (see blog).

 

Mammals

Fox – one seen in Bourn Bridge Rd garden on 3rd.

Hare – one seen crossing Pampisford Rd near Cutting Rd, and another on GP by Illumina on 12th.

Muntjac – one spotted in a Cambridge Rd garden on both 6th and 12th.

Roe Deer – five seen in Sluice Wood on 17th.

 

Weather

Rainfall for the month was slightly above average at 53 mm. The highest temperature was 13.1°C on 5th with the lowest being minus 8.2°C on the 10th. The second week was frosty for several days (see blog) but thereafter was around freezing or above. Winds were predominantly from a south west to westerly direction with a couple of stormy days at both the beginning and end of the month.

Many thanks to all those who contributed their sightings this month. Gaynor Farrant, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Nancy Ockendon, Barbara Phippen, Gareth Rees, Marion Rusted, Gill & Richard 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.

Redwing in the garden

26th January 2025 - John T has been lucky enough to spot both Redwing and Fieldfare in his Hall Farm garden recently, and took this rather nice photo of a Redwing in the rain.

First sign of Snowdrops and Aconites

12th January 2025 - the first Snowdrop and Aconite were starting to show in Sluice Wood - Andy M.

Frosty scenes around the village

12th January 2025 - the combination of fog and freezing temperatures overnight produced some interesting frosty effects the following morning. Photos from around her Lewis Cres garden, and from Granta Park where the lake was frozen over, by Polly and Andy M.

    Granta Park

Green Woodpecker

9th January 2025 - a male Green Woodpecker, distinguished from the female by the presence of the red spot below the eye, was seen digging for ants in Andy M's garden.

Sparrowhawk on garden fence

6th January 2025 - this rather splendid female/juvenile Sparrowhawk was spotted by Barbara P in her garden.

December 2024 - Summary of Sightings around the Abingtons

December 2024

Amphibians and Reptiles; Butterflies and other Insects; Flora and Fungi

No reported sightings.

 

Birds

A total of 48 species were reported this month in 321 records. Unusually, a Nuthatch has been seen in several gardens this month. Both Redwing and Fieldfare continue to be reported, and several Mistle Thrush were heard singing around GP.

A Nuthatch has been regularly visiting a garden on Church Lane this month, with other more sporadic sightings on both Bourn Bridge Rd and Linton Rd. These relatively unusual garden visitors were only previously reported in January this year, so its good to see them around again.

A small flock of Fieldfare were spotted on the LSA, as well as around Hall Farm, and a few Redwing were seen on the LSA and on GP (see blog). There seem to be fewer berries around for them this year, so who knows if they will stay around.

Three Mistle Thrush were heard singing mid-month, their calls resonating all around GP. On the lake, 11 Canada Goose, two Greylag and a Little Grebe joined a few Mallard and Moorhen (see blog), and three Grey Heron were spotted resting on Bancroft Meadow. Around the now-cleared mound, a flock of Meadow Pipit were seen feeding, as were a few Pied Wagtail, and just across the river on the Perse sports fields, good numbers (100+) of Black-headed Gull were also seen.

Mixed flocks of up to six Blue Tit and four Great Tit were regularly seen in gardens, often including a few Coal Tit or Long-tailed Tit, as well as an occasional Blackcap or Goldcrest in some gardens. Flocks of up to 8-9 Goldfinch were also garden regulars, with 30 also being seen on GP, and 2-3 Greenfinch were also reported on feeders. Encouragingly, a few more Chaffinch also seem to be around. Blackbird were also often seen, as well as a few Dunnock and Wren, and a singing Robin could often be heard.

A Song Thrush was seen in a Cambridge Rd garden, as well as on GP and the LSA, and a group of Starling made a welcome return to a Hall Farm garden after a long absence, and small flocks were also seen on GP and the LSA. The colony of House Sparrow on Lewis Cres continues to thrive, with 10-20 hopping around their hedge on a sunny day.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was regularly spotted in Cambridge Rd and Hall Farm gardens (see blog), and a Jay and 1-2 Magpie were seen at several sites. A Collared Dove was occasionally reported, joining the more numerous Stock Dove, Woodpigeon and Feral Pigeon seen at several locations.

A couple of Buzzard were seen ‘worming’ on the Perse sports fields, and were seen overhead on a number of occasions. A Red Kite and a Kestrel were both reported from several locations, and a Sparrowhawk was seen catching an unfortunate Goldfinch on Lewis Cres (see blog). Up to three Tawny Owl were also heard calling at various locations around the villages.

A male Pheasant appeared throughout the month under a Lewis Cres feeder, and a covey of Red-legged Partridge were seen on the LSA, where small numbers of Skylark were heard singing. Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Rook were also reported, often in quite large numbers on GP.

 

Mammals

Fallow Deer – two seen at the top of Chalky Rd in 23rd.

Hare – one on GP near Illumina on 15th.

 

Weather

The rainfall in December was 51 mm which is slightly over the average. The highest temperature was 15.5 degrees C on the 18th with the lowest being minus 0.5 degrees on the 4th. This was the only day the temperature went below freezing, so overall a mild month with winds mainly from a southerly direction. This may account for many bulbs starting to shoot and the fact that some Snowdrops and Aconites are in bloom.

 

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

Jeff Dowling, David & Gaynor Farrant, Gordon & Carolyn Hannah, Andy & Polly Merryweather, 

Gill & Richard Smith, John & Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

22nd December 2024 - John and Maggie are lucky enough to have a Great Spotted Woodpecker regularly visit their garden at Hall Farm, and John recently had the opportunity to take this lovely photograph of a male.