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. 

Sparrowhawk - a successful catch

17th December 2024 - whilst preparing lunch, Andy and Polly M spotted a Sparrowhawk perched on the garden fence, also tucking into its midday meal, having just caught an unfortunate Goldfinch on the feeders. This individual appears to be a juvenile female, as evidenced by the larger size, brown upper plumage with white spots, and widely spaced barring on the breast. 

Having efficiently plucked and eviscerated its prey, it set about consuming the whole of the unfortunate little bird, before resting a quite a while on the perch.

A few birds on Granta Park

15th December 2024 - on a walk around Granta Park today, Andy M noted a few interesting birds. On the lake, a Little Grebe was still in residence, having successfully bred on the lake this year, alongside a family group of Canada Goose. A few Pied Wagtail scurried across the playing field in search of insects or other prey, and in Lagden's Grove a small flock of Redwing nervously eyed him, whilst searching for berries during their winter visit to these shores. Also in the woods, and interesting orange fungus.

Little Grebe

Canada Goose

Pied Wagtail

Redwing

November 2024 - Summary of Sightings from the Abingtons

November 2024

Amphibians and Reptiles

No reported sightings.

 

Birds

A notably good total of 52 species reported this month in 369 records. Small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare spotted, and unusually a sizable mixed flock of Golden Plover and Lapwing was feeding in fields adjacent to the ORC. Blackcap were spotted feeding in gardens and both Barn Owl and Tawny Owl reported. A few Parakeets were also reported.

Around 100 Golden Plover, and a similar number of Lapwing were spread seen feeding across the fields adjacent to the ORC on 20^th (see blog) These were unusually close to the village, being more typically seen to the north along the Roman Road. Small numbers of Fieldfare were spotted on the LSA and ORC, as well as in a crab apple tree by the old pottery, and a flock of 12 Redwing were seen along Chalky Rd (see blog), and near Church Lane.

A group of three Parakeet (species unrecorded, but presumably Rose-ringed Parakeet) were seen and heard flying over Westfield on 2nd. These remain an unusual sight in rural villages locally, although a population is now regularly seen in warmer conurbations, including Cambridge).

A Barn Owl was spotted around an outbuilding on the LSA, and a Tawny Owl was regularly heard and occasionally seen around Hall Farm. One or two Buzzard were regularly spotted at multiple sites around the villages, and a Kestrel was seen around Cambridge Rd, the LSA and the Perse sports fields. A Red Kite was reported three times, and a Sparrowhawk twice, both mostly to the south of the village.

A male Blackcap, and sometimes a pair, were commonly seen on Lewis Cres early in the month (see blog), often amongst a mixed tit flock which included Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit (see blog) the latter two species also being seen in Cambridge Rd and Hall Farm gardens, as well as on the LSA. Several Blue Tit and Great Tit were reported more widely, as were Goldfinch (often 8-12) and Greenfinch (more usually 3-4), and 1-2 Chaffinch at several locations. Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock and Wren were all regularly seen in several gardens, and Goldcrest were occasionally heard singing when the weather was warmer.

A male Pheasant was seen strutting around a Lewis Cres garden, and Red-legged Partridge were spotted on the LSA and ORC, as well as along Bourn Bridge Rd. A Jay was a regular visitor to several gardens, as well as being spotted on the LSA and in GP. Magpie were similarly widespread, including five seen together along Church Lane and on the LSA. A Collared Dove made a welcome return to a Cambridge Rd garden, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker also returned to several gardens.

On GP lake, around 30 Mallard, two Moorhen and two Little Grebe were seen, and a pair of Mandarin Duck was seen along the river on GP (17^th). Four Grey Heron were seen in Bancroft Meadow (10^th) as well as flying over Lewis Cres on two occasions. A few Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull were also seen in GP, and a flock of around 100 Black-headed Gull was also seen on the Perse sports fields.

Unusually, a Grey Wagtail was spotted in a Meadow Walk garden, and Pied Wagtail were seen around Hall Farm and on the LSA. A few Linnet and Yellowhammer, as well as nine Skylark were also seen on the LSA.

Carrion Crow, Jackdaw and Rook were all reported, often in large numbers on GP and fields on the LSA. Similarly, 100+ Woodpigeon were reported in fields behind Lewis Cres. Stock Dove were also regularly seen amongst the increasing number of Feral Pigeon in Lewis Cres, and up to 20 House Sparrow and 12 Starling were also recorded.

 

Butterflies and other Insects

No reported sightings.

 

Mammals

Fallow Deer – a herd of about 15 were seen in the field south of ORC on 21^st (see blog).

Hedgehog – one small hedgehog was seen in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden in the early morning on 1st.

Muntjac – one seen in a Cambridge Rd garden on 9^th, and one in Lagden’s Grove, GP on 17th.

 

Flora and Fungi

An unusual pink-coloured fungus was spotted by Emma J on the LSA (see blog). The autumn colour of the trees has also been good this month (see blog).

 

Weather

A drier than usual month with only 41.25 mm of rain, whereas the average is just over 60 mm. The highest temperature was 18.3 degrees C on the 24th and the lowest mins 4.1 degrees C on the 20th. The first three weeks of the month were mild for November before the first frost, with winds westerly to south-westerly until the 20th.

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for November 2024.
David & Gaynor Farrant, Jayne Gamble, Emma Jones, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Joan Nevin, Brian Parris, Gill and Richard Smith, Suzan Stewart, John & Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.

Golden Plover and Lapwing flock

21st November 2024 - a good-sized flock of around 150 Golden Plover and about 100 Lapwing were seen swirling above the fields adjacent to the Old Railway Cutting by Andy M and John T recently. Not usually seen this close to the village, they settled in a newly-sown field and spread out to feed. 

Golden Plover                                               [photo John T]

Golden Plover                                             [photos Andy M]

Mammals on the Settlements

21st November 2024 - Andy M spotted a number of mammal species along the Old Railway Cutting and on the Settlements recently, including Rabbit, Grey Squirrel and a good-sized herd of Fallow Deer.

Rabbit

Grey Squirrel

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer