September 2024
Amphibians
and Reptiles
Just two sightings
this month: a Common Toad near a pond in Westfield (see
blog), and two good-sized Common Frog in Lewis Cres (see
blog).
Birds
A total of 45 species reported
this month in 299 records. A Kingfisher was again reported along the river, and
a Treecreeper was again heard in Sluice Wood. Several large gatherings of Swallow,
and smaller numbers of House Martin were reported during the first half of the
month, and a large group of Mistle Thrush were seen around the meadows between
the churches.
A Kingfisher
was heard calling whilst flying along the river on GP, and a Treecreeper
was heard in the woods near the sluice, both on 24th.
Several flocks of 20-30
Swallow were seen gathering on lines on the LSA and flying in loose
flocks over Lewis Cres, as these summer visitors start their journey south. Family
groups of 6-8 House Martin were also regularly seen around their nest
sites on Mortlock Gardens. Both species were last reported on 19th.
Several unusually
early sightings of Redwing have been reported, the first on 20th August
(!), and then (tentatively) on 10th and 18th September. If true, these birds are
arriving up to a month earlier than expected, as arrivals generally start in late
Sept/early Oct. A large flock of 32 Mistle Thrush were seen feeding around
Hood’s Meadow on 22nd, and a few Song Thrush were also spotted later in
the month.
Good numbers of Goldfinch
(up to 12) and Greenfinch (up to 7) have been returning to a number of
garden feeders, but with only 1-3 Chaffinch occasionally seen. Mixed
flocks of 5-10 Blue Tit and Great Tit are also being reported, as
well as up to 10 Long-tailed Tit, and an occasional Coal Tit and
Goldcrest. A few Chiffchaff were also regularly seen in gardens again
(see
blog), as were Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock and Wren.
The thriving House Sparrow colony continues to be very vocal in Lewis
Cres, with 15-20 birds regularly counted.
Around the lake on GP,
seven Barnacle Goose, five Greylag and two Egyptian Goose were
seen on 24th. Up to 37 Mallard were joined by a male Mandarin Duck, a
pair of Moorhen with a juvenile, and a pair of Little Grebe were
seen feeding a late brood youngster. Along the river, 1-2 Grey Heron
were seen, as were a further seven female/juvenile Mandarin Duck. Small
flocks of Starling and 20 Pied Wagtail were seen feeding on GP
cricket field, alongside the numerous Rook and Jackdaw.
Up to three Jay
visited the oak trees in Lewis Cres throughout the month, to gather and stash
acorns for winter, as well as to eat the odd fallen apple (see
blog). A few Magpie were also regularly reported from several
sites. Both Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were
seen in gardens around Hall Farm and Cambridge Rd, as well as on GP.
A Buzzard was
regularly spotted around the village, a Sparrowhawk was seen in several
gardens, and Tawny Owl were heard calling regularly. Unusually, no
reports of Kestrel or Red Kite this month. A few Lesser
Black-backed Gull were spotted flying over Lewis Cres, and Carrion Crow,
Collared Dove, Woodpigeon and Feral Pigeon were all
reported this month.
Butterflies
and other Insects
As summer comes to an
end, a total of 81 sightings were reported this month, these being mostly of butterfly
(64), and odonata (13) species.
Perhaps surprisingly,
13 butterfly species were spotted in September, with the vast majority of
reports being of Large White and Small White, seen throughout the
month especially around the allotments! Brimstone,
Red Admiral (see
blog) and Comma were also seen fairly regularly, especially
earlier in the month, as were a few Green-veined White. All the other
species were seen just once. A Painted Lady was spotted along Bourn
Bridge Rd on 3rd, and a Peacock in Lewis Cres on 6th. Both a Holly
Blue and a Common Blue were spotted, around the Perse sports fields,
and in a wildflower meadow on GP, respectively (see
blog). A Small Heath and a Speckled Wood were both seen
along the ORC in 14th, and unusually the Small Copper seen in a
Cambridge Rd garden on 22nd was likely from a third brood.
Total butterfly
reports received in September were: Large White (19), Small White (14), Red
Admiral (9), Brimstone (7), Comma (5), Green-veined White (3), and Painted Lady,
Peacock, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Small Heath and Small Copper
(all 1).
Of the odonata, the
predominant species reported was Southern Hawker with seven reports this
month, mostly from Lewis Cres. Several Migrant Hawker were seen hunting over
the reeds around GP lake on two occasions later in the month, and a Common
Darter was reported from three sites. Finally, several Emerald Damselfly
were again reported, along the river on 14th (see
blog).
A good-sized likely
female Wasp Spider was spotted on a house wall along Pampisford Rd on
18th, this being the first record in the village for three years (see
blog). Buff-tailed Bumblebee and White-tailed Bumblebee
were both reported, as was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
Mammals
Bat – during
the excellent bat safari on 17th around GP, lead by Iain Webb from the Wildlife
Trust, several Common Pipistrelle were seen over clearings in both
Lagden’s Grove and Sluice Wood, and we watched at least four Daubenton’s
and several Common Pipistrelle feeding low over the lake as the fading twilight
reflected off the surface – quite beautiful (see
blog). Bats also seen over a Cambridge Rd garden on 6th and 22nd.
Fox – evidence (i.e.
droppings) of one regularly visiting a Lewis Cres garden.
Hedgehog – one spotted
in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden.
Muntjac – one seen
in Bourn Bridge Rd front garden on 1st, one spotted in Perse sports fields on
3rd, two in a Cambridge Rd garden on 22nd, one in a Lewis Cres garden and one
seen in Lagden’s Grove, both on 22nd.
Flora
and Fungi
A number of small
fungi were spotted on the GP lunchtime walk, Whilst identifying the species
definitively can be difficult, they are easy to admire (see
blog).
Weather
A month with rainfall
well over the average, at 104.5 mm, the average for Cambridge being around 60
mm! The highest temperature was 33 degrees C on the 1st, and the lowest was 0.3
degrees C on the 13th. Wind direction has been quite variable during the month
but not that strong.
ANW
Programme
The final river sampling
of the year took place on 19th September (results
on blog). No further programme items are planned for this year. Many
thanks to those that supported our activities this year. If you have any
comments or suggestions for activities, talks, visits etc next year, please do
let one of the Project Team know.
Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for Sept 2024.
Genevieve Dalton, David & Gaynor Farrant, Emma Jones, Carole McCrae, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Nancy Ockendon, Gill and Richard Smith, John and Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge, John Webb.