Garden birds

30th March 2025 - John T recently spent a little time photographing some of the birds around the blossoming Cherry tree in his garden, and sent these lovely pictures of Blue Tit and Greenfinch.

Early Cowslip

19th March 2025 - in the wild meadow part of Len M's garden, a solitary Cowslip has come into flower.

Birds around Granta Park

16th March 2025 - on a walk around Granta Park, Andy M spotted a number of species on the lake. The male Mallard were in fine plumage, showing off their green heads and black tail curls! Both Canada Goose and Greylag were also on the lake, with a few Barnacle Goose resting on the cricket field nearby. Interestingly, a pair of Ruddy Shelduck also put in an appearance. This introduced but now naturalised species have been seen locally a few times recently, and were also seen on Grange Farm later in the month.

Mallard - male

Canada Goose

Greylag

Barnacle Goose

Ruddy Shelduck male

Ruddy Shelduck female

Ruddy Shelduck pair

Ruddy Shelduck pair at Grange Farm [photo Tricia C]

Brambling spotted

16th March 2025 - a rather splendid male Brambling put in a brief appearance at the feeders in Andy M's garden - and luckily he had his camera to hand! These finches visit the UK during the winter, but around this time of year are heading north again to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia.

First butterflies starting to appear

6th March 2025 - the butterflies are starting to appear, with the first reports this year being of a Brimstone and a Small Tortoiseshell seen along Church Lane on 28th February. Shortly afterwards, during the first week of March, a few more Brimstone were seen, as were an occasional Comma, Small White and Peacock. 

Comma - one of the first species to be seen during March this year.

[photo Andy M]

February 2025 - Highlights of Sightings from around the Abingtons

Highlights for February 2025

Amphibians and Reptiles

No sightings reported. In the past Frogspawn has been reported by mid-February, but maybe the recent cold spell has caused them to pause this year!

 

Birds

A total of 52 species were reported this month in 403 records.

A Lesser Redpoll paid a brief visit to a Lewis Cres feeder on 17th, this being the only report this year, and both male and female Blackcap have been regular visitors to several gardens (see blog). A Redwing was spotted on the LSA on 17th along with a flock of ~40 Fieldfare, the latter also being seen in smaller numbers on GP. A Ruddy Shelduck was seen along with a Greylag on 2nd on GP lake (see blog), where both a Cormorant and a Grey Heron were also spotted.

A flock of six Golden Plover was seen in fields around AbPkFm, as were around 30 Black-headed Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 15-20 Red-legged Partridge. A mixed flock of ~30 Linnet and ~30 Yellowhammer were seen feeding just south of Chalky Rd, the males being in lovely plumage now, and where ~10 singing Skylark and a Meadow Pipit were also spotted.

A Barn Owl has been reported as resident at bottom of a field on the LSA, and Tawny Owl continued to call regularly. The resonate song of the Mistle Thrush could also be heard at several sites this month. After an absence of over a year, a Little Egret has again been spotted – twice! – along the river either side of the recreation ground.

A Buzzard was seen looking for worms on the Perse sports fields, four Red Kite were spotted patrolling over the southern parish boundary, and 1-2 Kestrel were reported on GP, the ORC and the LSA. A Green Woodpecker was heard yaffling on GP on two occasions, and 1 or 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen regularly at several locations.

A Goldcrest was reported from Hall Farm, and both Jay and Song Thrush were regular visitors in both Cambridge Rd and Lewis Cres gardens. Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Coal Tit were all regularly reported, as were Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.

 

Butterflies and other Insects

An Early Bumblebee was seen on 8th and 23rd in Lewis Cres, and several Buff-tailed Bumblebee were then seen between 18th to 25th mostly feeding on heather flowers.

 

Flora and Fungi

Snowdrop and Aconite in flower near the sluice on GP (see blog).

 

Mammals

Fallow Deer – eight including two stags were seen on LSA on 17th, followed by another 15, in two 2 herds of ten and five, also on LSA on 27th.

Hare – one seen in Lagden’s Grove and two more near the ‘Hairdresser’s path’ on 16th. Three were spotted in LSA in a field off Chalky Rd, and six in the field near the ORC.

Muntjac – one in a Cambridge Rd garden on 9th. Two were seen in Lagden’s Grove, and one by the Hairdresser’s path on 16th, and one was seen on LSA on 27th.

Roe Deer – one was seen on LSA on 27th.

 

Weather

Rainfall of 37.5 mm for the month, which is about average. The warmest day was 17.2 C on the 21st with a low of minus 5.2 C on the 17th. The first two weeks of the month winds were predominantly in an east to southeasterly direction swinging more southerly later, hence giving a higher temperature. 

Many thanks to all those who contributed their sightings this month. David & Gaynor Farrant, Mary Godsmark, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Brian & Pamela Parris, 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. 

Blackcap pair

27th February 2025 - over the last week, during the colder weather, Andy M noticed a pair of Blackcap visiting the feeders - a male with his black cap, and a female with her rufous brown cap. They have continued to visit regularly since, and the male was even spotted singing on occasion - seems Spring is already in the air!

Male Blackcap, fluffed up against the cold

Female Blackcap