Amphibians
and Reptiles
Just a few sightings
of Common Frog in Lewis Cres. Regular sightings of Smooth Newt in
a Bourn Bridge Rd pond as well as in a pond in GA.
Birds
As for last month, a total
of 57 species were reported this month in 517 records. The first sightings of both
Swallow and House Martin came on 4th and 10th respectively, and several warbler
species were reported, with Yellow Wagtail, Kingfisher and Little Egret all seen
along the river.
Swallow first
arrived over the village on 4th, with 3 being seen on the LSA. Several single
birds were spotted over the following week, before birds were reported returning
to their usual nest site on North Rd on 13th. Over the last 12 years, first
sightings have generally been between 2nd and 9th April. The first House
Martin sightings were on 10th, when 12 were seen over Lewis Cres, although
these were likely birds on passage, as only 1-2 birds were then occasionally
seen for the rest of the month, with none spotted around the usual nest sites. In
previous years, first reports of House Martin were generally in the
second half of April, but of late this has stretched into May. No Swift
were reported, but they generally arrive in the first week of May.
Unusually, a Yellow
Wagtail was spotted feeding around the horses on Bancroft Meadow on 13th (see
blog), when a Grey Wagtail was also seen on GP, and Pied
Wagtail were regularly reported from a number of sites from mid-month
onwards.
A Kingfisher
was briefly glimpsed in Sluice Wood on 17th (first record of the year), and a Little
Egret was also spotted along the river twice this month. A Grey Heron
was seen around the lake on GP and also flying over the village on a number of
occasions. Also spotted around the GP lake were a Little Grebe, a few Mallard
and a Reed Bunting. At least two pairs of Mandarin Duck were seen
along the river in GP and Sluice Wood, where it seems likely they may breed. Four
Greylag were also seen flying over the LSA.
Of the warblers, both Blackcap (see blog) and Chiffchaff (see blog) continued to be regularly heard at many sites, a Willow Warbler was heard on the LSA on 13th, and again around Meadow Walk, and a Whitethroat was heard on the LSA on 25th. More unusually, a Grasshopper Warbler was briefly heard on LSA on 17th, before quickly moving on. A possible Cetti’s Warbler was picked up by the Merlin app along North Rd on 22nd, but on further consideration of the habitat there, and the lack of a positive sighting, this report has been withdrawn.
A few Buzzard have been seen circling high above the village on several occasions, and 1-2 Red Kite were also seen flying overhead. A pair of Kestrel were spotted around an outbuilding on the LSA, and a Sparrowhawk was seen flying over Lewis Cres several times. One, or possibly two, calling Tawny Owl were also heard throughout the month.
Skylark could
regularly be heard singing over the fields around Lewis Cres and the LSA, and a
few Linnet and a Yellowhammer were also reported on the LSA. Unusually
a pair of Linnet was also seen feeding on Lewis Cres (see
blog). Song Thrush were spotted throughout the month in several gardens,
and a Mistle Thrush was heard on GP around mid-month. A Goldcrest
was spotted at several locations, as were a Jay, Green Woodpecker
and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Unusually, there were several reports of Red-legged
Partridge around gardens this month, and encouragingly a few Starling
were spotted.
Butterflies
and other Insects
There were a total of
121 reported sightings this month, 87 of which were butterflies, and 19 of
bees.
Eleven different
butterfly species were seen, with several being recorded for the first time
this year, namely: Green-veined White, Large White, Holly Blue, Orange
Tip (see
blog), Speckled Wood (see
blog) and Red Admiral. The most reported species was Brimstone
(19 reports), closely followed by Orange Tip (16 reports, and seen in
especially large numbers at the end of the month), Peacock (13 reports),
Small White (9 reports) and Comma (8 reports, see
blog). Red Admiral numbers seemed unusually low with just one
report, and there were no sightings of Small Tortoiseshell.
Within the 19 reports
of bees, White-tailed Bumblebee, Red-tailed Bumblebee and Tree
Bumblebee were all seen for the first time this year. Other species spotted
were Common Carder Bee, Hairy-footed Flower Bee and Tawny
Mining Bee (see
blog). A large swarm of Honeybee was found hanging on foliage,
and was recovered by the apiarist on GP (see
blog)
Dark-edged Beefly
were seen in good numbers around mid-month (see
blog),, and the first odonata species of the year, Large Red
Damselfly, was reported at four locations towards the end of the month (see
blog).
Flora
and Fungi
Cowslip were reported
to be blooming well on GP meadow. Bluebell and Blackthorn were reported early
in the month (see
blog), and a few
Celandine remained in flower on GP around mid-month. Green Alkanet and Ground
Ivy were also reported.
Mammals
Bat – one seen
flying around a street light in GA High St on 4th, and several were seen around
a Cambridge Rd garden towards the end of the month.
Fox – one adult
spotted on 13th, as well as a cub seen in daylight on 25th, in a Cambridge Rd
garden. One regularly seen in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden and another is possibly
visiting a Meadow Walk garden.
Hedgehog – caught
regularly on a trail camera in two Bourn Bridge Rd gardens throughout the month
(see
blog), and one also visiting a Meadow Walk garden.
Muntjac – one spotted
on the LSA on 13th, with one found dead in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden.
Weather
The total rainfall for April was well up
on the previous month at 42 mm, with 31 mm falling in one day on the 15th! The total
is about average for the month. The highest temperature was 29.3 C on the
30th and the lowest minus 2.1 C on the 8th. Winds were predominantly north or south-easterly.
NatureWatch
events
The River Sampling group started up
again for the summer, with the first results of the year being very similar to
this time last year (see
blog for results). A small group of seven had a lovely walk around
Lackford Lakes on 30th, seeing a total of 41 bird species, 6 butterfly species
and a Muntjac. Highlights included seeing Cuckoo, Hobby, Nuthatch and Great White
Egret, hearing a Nightingale as well as several warbler species, and seeing a
Small Copper butterfly and a Large Red Damselfly.
Our next trip will be to Paxton Pits
nature reserve, near St Neots on Wednesday 21st May at 10:30. Please contact
Derek Turnidge for further details if interested. The full programme for the
year can be viewed on the blog, Programme
Link.
Many thanks to all those who contributed their sightings this month.
David & Gaynor Farrant, Emma Jones, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Mary Miles, Joan Nevin, Freda Orgee, Brian & Pamela Parris, Barbara Phippen, Gill Smith, Suzan Stewart, John & Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge, John Webb
Abbreviations: GA - Great Abington, LA –
Little Abington, LSA – Land Settlement Association, GP – Granta Park, ORC – Old
Railway Cutting, AbPkFm – Abington Park Farm.
