Sunday, 16 March 2025

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. 

Thursday, 6 March 2025

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

Unusual Great Tit

27th February 2025 - Andy M was watching the birds at his feeders, when he noticed this Great Tit, which at first inspection seemed much like any other Great Tit, with the exception of its long and somewhat deformed bill - with which it seemed to be coping perfectly well!

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Winter flowers on Granta Park

16th February 2025 - a lovely show of Aconites and Snowdrops in Sluice Wood on GP this year. 






Over the winter, an extensive 'wildlife habitat improvement project' has been underway in Lagden's Grove - the undergrowth clearance looks rather brutal at the moment, but the hope is that the wild flowers in particular will benefit from the extra light. Not sure the insects or birds are going to be quite so happy at the loss of feeding and nesting habitat though - we will see.


Andy M

Abington NatureWatch 2025 Programme

25th February 2025 - the Abington NatureWatch 2025 Programme of Events is shown below.

ANW members will receive email reminders with further details ahead of each trip.

On occasion it becomes necessary to change the programme. The most up-to-date information can be found at the top right of the Abington NatureWatch blog home page, under the Resources heading.

ANW Project Team

RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch - Abington results

11 February 2025 - Following the RSPB BGBW event conducted over the last weekend in January, those that took part locally sent Derek T their results, and the collated results are shown below.

2025 - 18 reports received, total of 31 species seen
2024 - 18 reports received, total of 28 species seen
2023 - 18 reports received, total of 30 species seen.

In the table above, those species reported in 2025,but not 2024 are marked with an asterisk.
Species seen in 2024, but not 2025 were Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker, Moorhen and Reed Bunting.

Many thanks to all those who took part.

DLT 09Feb2025

Saturday, 8 February 2025

Snowdrop and Aconite in flower

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


The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

  • To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
  • To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
  • To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
  • To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)