June 2024
Amphibians
and Reptiles
Sporadic sightings of Smooth
Newt in a pond on Bourn Bridge Rd, and another was reported from Cambridge
Road on the 30th. Two Common Lizard and two Common Toad reported
from Chalky Road at the beginning of the month.
Birds
A total of 59 species were
spotted this month in 364 records. Swallow, Swift and House Martin continued to
be seen, and a few warblers could be heard singing. Two Lesser Redpoll were also
believed to have been spotted, an unusual species to been seen here in the
summer.
A few Swift have
been regularly spotted throughout the month, with a group of 8-10 heard
screaming both around Hall Farm, where they are nesting, and LA church. Up to
eight Swallow have been seen around the LSA where they are known to have
chicks in the nest, and a few were seen drinking from GP lake. House Martin
have also been spotted in small groups of up to six, with occupied nests
reported from three locations around the villages.
Both Blackcap
and Chiffchaff were often heard around the villages, and at least one Reed
Warbler was heard singing from the reedbed on GP. A Common Whitethroat
was seen gathering food along the ORC, presumably to feed young, and unusually a
Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing around Church Lane and in a Lewis
Crescent garden.
A pair of Lesser
Redpoll are believed to have been spotted in a Chalky Rd garden (unverified).
Whilst often visiting here in winter, they are not usually seen here over the
summer, although there was a report from LA in July 2019, and they are known to
breed around Thetford.
On GP lake, five Barnacle
Goose and a Greylag were seen alongside a total of 22 Canada
Goose, including up to 11 goslings. A family of two adult Little Grebe
with 1-2 young were regularly seen, and a single Great Crested Grebe was
reported until mid-month. A Mandarin Duck, several Reed Bunting, a
Moorhen and a few Mallard were reported by the lake, and a
Grey Wagtail was spotted gathering food there (see
blog), with another seen along the river by the recreation garden. A Grey
Heron was reported both on GP and around Moorefield.
Yellowhammer
and Skylark were both spotted along the ORC, and a few Linnet
were seen on rough ground on GP. Pied Wagtail were regularly reported from
the LSA, including some with young, and Mistle Thrush were seen along
Church Lane and on the Perse sports fields, as well as being seen with young
along North Rd. Song Thrush were reported several times.
A Jay was spotted
along Cambridge Rd and on GP, and a Red-legged Partridge was reported
from a Church Lane garden. A Green Woodpecker was seen in a Cambridge Rd
garden, with a Great Spotted Woodpecker also being seen there as well as
along Bourn Bridge Rd.
One, occasionally two,
Buzzard and Red Kite were both regularly seen, with a pair of Kestrel
seen with two young along Bourn Bridge Rd, and a Sparrowhawk was
reported twice. A Goldcrest was occasionally reported, and a small flock
of Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gull was seen on the
Perse sports fields.
A few Stock Dove
and Collared Dove were seen at several locations, and it was observed
that the number of Feral Pigeon seen locally seems to be on the
increase.
Butterflies
and other Insects
A total of 81 sightings
were reported in June, most of those being butterflies (47), but also including
a few odonata (10) and bee (13) reports.
Meadow Brown and
Brimstone were the most commonly reported, with 13 and 9 reports
respectively, then Holly Blue with four reports, all early in the month.
The other eleven species were all reported between 1-3 times. Of the species
seen for the first time this year, Common Blue was first reported on 8th
then again towards the end of the month, Marbled White was first spotted
on 25th, and Small Skipper was seen just once on 23rd (see
blog).
Total numbers of
butterfly reports received were: Meadow Brown (13), Brimstone (9), Holly Blue
(4), Common Blue and Marbled White (both 3), Comma, Green-veined White, Small
Heath, Small White and Speckled White (all 2), and Large White, Peacock, Red
Admiral, Small Skipper and Small Tortoiseshell (all 1).
With the exception of
a Large Red Damselfly which was seen on 9th, all odonata reports came later
in the month. A Southern Hawker was seen for the first time this year on
23rd on Cambridge Rd and again on 27th when it was seen emerging from the pond
there (see
blog). Both Broad-bodied Chaser and Common Blue Damselfly
were both seen along Church Lane on 21st (see
blog), and both again on GP on 25th, and Banded Demoiselle were seen on
25th and 27th. A Small Red Damselfly was also reported on 21st, but this
requires verification as this scarce species is generally restricted to
heathland bogs along the south coast and in Wales.
Both Buff-tailed
Bumblebee and White-tailed Bumblebee were widely reported, with Common
Carder Bee seen along Bourn Bridge Rd and Cambridge Rd. Tawny Mining Bee
and Tree Bumblebee were also spotted, as was a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly.
Mammals
Bat - several
seen regularly throughout the month, probably Pipistrelle and Serotine, in a
Cambridge Rd garden.
Fox – one dead
by side of Newmarket Rd on 15th.
Hedgehog –
evidence in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden, and in a Lewis Cres garden, throughout
the month, and one seen in second Bourn Bridge Rd garden on 13th.
Muntjac - one
regularly seen in a Cambridge Rd garden, and one in Sluice Wood on 9th.
Flora
and Fungi
Good numbers of Bee
Orchid were reported on GP (see
blog), as well as one along the PRV (see
blog). Southern Marsh Orchid and Pyramidal Orchid were also seen on GP.
Other flora species
reported along the ORC were: Rough Chervil, Oxeye Daisy, Perforate St John’s
Wort, Hairy St John’s Wort, Common Centaury, Dark Mullein, Meadow Vetchling,
Common Agrimony, Tufted Vetch, Common Mignonette, Creeping Thistle, Ragwort,
Wild Marjoram, Hop Clover, Hemlock, Scarlet Pimpernel, Cow Parsnip, Hedge
Bedstraw, Bramble (see
blog).
Additional species
seen on GP were: Viper’s Bugloss, White Campion, Small Scabious, Kidney Vetch,
Bird’s foot Trefoil, Ladies’ Bedstraw, Black Medick, Red Clover (see
blog).
Weather
At last, a month with
slightly under average rainfall, amounting to 29 mm in total, but in fact,
three weeks of the month were dry. The highest temperature was at the end of
the month with 32.7 degrees C recorded, and the lowest was 3.4 degrees C on the
5th. Overall daytime temperatures were low to mid twenties.
ANW
Programme
The results of the late May Abington Bird Survey indicated a total of 59 species (see blog for report). River Sampling took place on 27th June (see blog for results), and an evening walk around Granta Park on 22nd was attended by ten members (see blog). Upcoming items in July include visits to RSPB Lakenheath Fen on 13th and Fleam Dyke on 27th, as well as river sampling on 22nd. The full NatureWatch 2024 Programme can be found here (Prog link).
Many thanks to all those who contributed
reports of their sightings for June 2024.
Peter
Brunning, Judy Davies, David & Gaynor Farrant, Janet Gerrard, Gordon and
Carolyn Hannah, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Mary Miles, Joan
Nevin, Nancy Ockendon, Barbara Phippen, Gill and Richard Smith, Suzan Stewart, Maggie
Turner, Derek Turnidge.
