May 2025 - Summary of Sightings from the Abingtons

Amphibians and Reptiles

Four reports were received this month: two Common Frog and a Smooth Newt were seen in Lewis Cres (see blog), and a Smooth Newt was seen on two occasions in a pond in Cambridge Rd garden. Common Newt were also regularly seen, up to four at one time, in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden pond.

 

Birds

Boosted by the bank holiday survey results, the good total of 66 species were reported this month in 592 records. Seven species were first spotted this year on the bank holiday survey, these being Corn Bunting, Little Whitethroat and Grey Partridge, all seen along the Roman Road; Garden Warbler and Hobby, seen on the LSA; and Great Crested Grebe and Reed Warbler, seen around GP lake.

Three Swift were first seen this year on 1st May around the village centre, about four days earlier than average. The number then steadily grew to a maximum of ten seen around Hall Farm late in the month. Up to six Swallow were regularly seen, mostly on the LSA, and similar numbers of House Martin were also spotted on the LSA and around GP.

Seven species of warbler were reported this month; Chiffchaff and Blackcap continued to be seen regularly, Common Whitethroat and Willow Warbler were spotted on the LSA (see blog) as was the case April, with Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Warbler all being reported for the first time this year (see blog).

Unusually, a male Bullfinch was spotted in a Lewis Cres garden feeding on tree flower buds. Also less commonly, a Little Egret seen on two occasions along the river by the recreation ground, and two young Grey Wagtail were spotted by Bourn Bridge, with an adult seen near the sluice.

A Treecreeper was spotted on several occasions at Hall Farm, and 1-2 Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen at several sites, but no recent reports of Green Woodpecker.  Corn Bunting, Linnet and Yellowhammer were all seen along the Roman Road (see blog) and in the LSA, with Skylark also being heard at several sites.

Both a Little Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe were spotted on GP lake, along with several Greylag and Canada Goose and a Barnacle Goose. A female Mandarin Duck is known to be nesting near the river, and a second female was seen with six small duckling on the lake. A female Mallard was also seen with eight good-sized ducklings on the river, and both Reed Bunting and Reed Warbler were singing from the reedbed (see blog). Two Moorhen and a Grey Heron were seen there too, and a pair of Ruddy Shelduck were spotted over the LSA.

Buzzard and Red Kite were frequently reported (see blog), and both Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen several times. A Hobby was seen on the LSA, and a Tawny Owl was heard calling one evening. A Jay was a frequent visitor to a Cambridge Rd garden, and Red-legged Partridge have been seen in several gardens.

 

Butterflies and other Insects

There were relatively few reports of insects this month, 83 reports were received compared with 121 in April. Of these, 67 were records of butterflies which comprised a total of 11 species.

Butterflies - the most frequently reported species was the Brimstone (20 reports), which has also been the most common butterfly every month so far this year. Holly Blue was the next most frequently spotted (16 reports). All the other species were reported much less frequently, with Orange Tip and Red Admiral each gaining six reports, with the remaining species being fewer.

This month saw the first report this year of Small Heath on the Roman Road on 23rd May and again on the LSA on 26th, this being a grassland species not frequently seen in gardens. This month saw a decline in the records of Orange Tip, when this species is usually at its peak. There was a single report of Peacock in May, perhaps not unexpectedly, as we are approaching the time of the year (June-July) when over-wintering individuals are dying, but before the next generation is set to emerge. As for April, Small Tortoiseshell was again not reported in May.

Odonata - as the warmer months approach, we might expect to see a wider range of odonata species. However, as for April, May brought reports only of Large Red Damselfly.

Other - White-tailed Bumblebee and Buff-tailed Bumblebee continued to be seen and there was one report of Red-tailed Bumblebee. This month also saw the first report of Tree Bumblebee. A Hornet was seen in Meadow Walk in mid-May, and a Mayfly seen in Lewis Cres (see blog).

 

Flora and Fungi

Wood Forget-me-Not were reported in Sluice Wood (see blog).

 

Mammals

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

Fox – two cubs spotted in a Cambridge Rd garden on 11th, and an adult in South Grove on 25th.

Muntjac - one seen by the side of Newmarket Rd on 14th, one in field north of Cambridge Rd on 24th, one in South Grove and one in Lagden’s Grove both on 25th, and one in a Cambridge Rd garden on 29th.

Hare – three along the Roman Road on 23rd, two in field north of Cambridge Rd on 24th and two in fields south of Chalky Rd on 26th (see blog).

 

Weather

A very dry month again, with only 20.25mm of rain - the normal average for the month being over 80mm! The highest temperature recorded was 30.7°C on the 1st of the month and the lowest  being minus 1.2°C on the 23rd. Winds were predominantly from an easterly direction, giving us the prolonged dry spell due to a well-established high to the east of the UK.

 

NatureWatch events

The River Sampling group met on 23rd May, see blog for results. Despite the windy weather, four members had a lovely walk around Paxton Pits on 21st May, where the highlight was the large number of recently hatched damselflies (see blog). And despite the date being moved due to bad weather, a total of seven members got to see the lovely profusion of orchids at Fulbourn Fen on 2nd June (see blog). Our next trip is an evening walk around Granta Park on 13th June. The full programme for the year can be viewed on the blog, here 2025 Programme Link.

Many thanks to all those who contributed their sightings this month.

Peter Brunning, Tricia Cullimore, David & Gaynor Farrant, Stewart Gilmour, Robin Harman, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Mary Miles, Joan Nevin, Barbara Phippen, Patsy Randall, Gill and Richard Smith, Suzan Stewart, John & Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge, John Webb, Penny Zimmerman.

Abbreviations: GA - Great Abington, LA – Little Abington, LSA – Land Settlement Association, GP – Granta Park, ORC – Old Railway Cutting, AbPkFm – Abington Park Farm.