MARCH 2019
Amphibians and Reptiles
Common Frog –
large mass of frogspawn reported in a garden pond on Bourn Bridge Road (03 Mar)
Birds
Fieldfare – 10-20
reported on Granta Park (05,19 Mar), a flock of ~30 on fields near Hildersham
Wood (20 Mar), and 12 were seen flying over Gt Abington on 23 Mar.
Redwing – 20+ in
trees behind Cambridge Road (01 Mar), and 2-4 on Granta Park (14 Mar). Last
reported along Chalky Road on 17 Mar.
Chiffchaff –
first heard singing from bushes alongside GP lake (01 Mar), with many reports
since from across the village, including at least 4 singing males along Old
Railway Cutting (30 Mar).
Blackcap –
first heard singing along Old Railway Cutting on 19 Mar. Heard several times since in Sluice Wood, and
a report of 3 singing males along the Old Railway Cutting (30 Mar).
Green Woodpecker – reported in a Bourn Bridge Road garden, and heard ‘yaffling’ in
Sluice Wood throughout the month. Great Spotted Woodpecker continue to
visit several garden feeders.
Little Owl – seen
on several occasions first thing and at dusk on Granta Park. A Tawny Owl was heard on Granta Park (01
Mar), and regularly heard (male and female) at night on LSA.
Red Kite –
several sightings near Hildersham Wood, over Granta Park, and the Old Railway
Cutting.
Sparrowhawk – one
seen with prey, possibly a Collared Dove in a garden (20 Mar), another seen
hunting on Bancroft Farm Meadow (27 Mar), and a third flying across the High
Street.
Golden Plover – around 30 flying over Mortlock Gardens and the adjacent field (20
Mar).
Yellowhammer –
small flocks seen in fields south of LSA.
Linnet – a flock of 30-40
seen very regularly on rough ground, or on the cricket pitch, in Granta Park.
Skylark – 3-4
reported in full song on the LSA (09 Mar), and over fields alongside Pampisford
Road.
Bullfinch –
reported feeding on tree buds along the Old Railway Cutting on two occasions. Small flocks of Goldfinch continue to visit feeders, with 2-3 Greenfinch, and up to 15 Chaffinch.
Long-tailed Tit – reported ‘pecking their reflections’ in window glass. Regular reports of Coal Tit singing on Granta Park, the LSA, and a Gt Abington garden.
Goldcrest – two
seen and heard in conifers on LSA (17 Mar), and one in Granta Park (25 Mar).
Robin – one report
of a pair displaying and feeding each other in a Gt Abington garden.
Grey Wagtail – a female
seen on 2 occasions, feeding on floating debris in the river near the sluice.
Little Egret – at
least six separate reports of a single bird along the river, throughout the
month.
Goosander – a
female was seen flying over Granta Park (21 Mar) – first record in The
Abingtons.
Mandarin Duck – 5 flying noisily in large circles over the meadows alongside river by
A1307.
Cormorant – reported
on 4-5 occasions feeding in the lake. Moorhen seen displaying on Granta Park
lake (15 Mar), and Mallard are now mostly
in pairs along the river, with very few left on Granta Park lake. A pair of Reed Bunting also seen in the reedbeds
(28 Mar).
Rook and Jackdaw – colonies actively nest
building in tall trees on Granta Park. Jay – four reported squabbling in the
trees along Cambridge Road, and two in Cook’s Meadow
Butterflies, Bees and other insects
Very few reports in the first three weeks of the month but many in the
last 10 days when the weather was warmer.
Brimstone – 26 sightings in last two weeks, mainly in gardens, but only 2
sightings before 18 Mar.
Peacock – 10 sightings during the month
Small White – 8 sightings during the month
Comma – 7 sightings during the month
Large White, Small
tortoiseshell – 2 sightings each
Orange Tip – first sighting this year on 30 Mar (this is earlier than usual)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
– fewer sightings (10) than usual for March
Red-tailed Bumblebee, White-tailed
Bumblebee, Mining bees, Honey bees –
few sightings only
Ladybirds – 7 Spot
ladybirds seen a few times in large numbers, very few Harlequin Ladybirds.
Beeflies – 3 sightings of these tiny insects feeding on spring flowers in last
week of month.
Lacewings - reported
Flowers
Early in March,
fantastic displays of violets in many places in the village - more than seen
before - dark and pale blue and white.
At the end of the month,
signs of spring:
Bourn Bridge Road:
White Dead Nettle just in
flower; Pink Dead Nettle just in
flower; Buttercup,one flower;
Dandelion, a few
flowers; Celandine in flower; many
small Daisies; Thistles.
Mallow leaves; Dock leaves; Ground Ivy;
Comfrey? Cow Parsley? early yellow daisy-
type flower.
Granta Park:
Many Cowslips on field next to cricket
ground; Small blue flowers, possibly Forget-me-Not; Dandelions;
Dock; Celandine; Speedwell; Lords and Ladies in leaf but not in
flower.
Cambridge Road: one Bluebell.
Mammals
Muntjac Deer – three reports this month, including
two deer in Lagden’s Grove, and two in the Old Railway Cutting.
Hare – five sightings, with two three reports of 1-2 Hare seen
around Granta Park, and up to four hare seen feeding in the fields alongside
the ‘hairdresser’s path’. Also two
spotted south of the Old Railway Cutting (30 Mar), and along Bourn Bridge Road.
Fox – three reports, with 1-2 seen sunning themselves along
the Old Railway Cutting on two occasions.
Single fox seen patrolling in Cook’s Meadow (25 Mar).
Badger – two reports of one seen in Abington Woods
on 04 Mar.
Pygmy Shrew – one reported dead in a garden along
Cambridge Road.
Many thanks to all those who have contributed
reports of their sightings for March 2019:
Anne Dunbar-Nobes, David Farrant, Jennifer Hirsh, Carole
McCrae, Len Mead, Andy Merryweather, Gareth Rees, Sally Simmons, Gill Smith, Derek
Turnidge, Sally Turnidge.
Please email your sightings, from within the
Abington parishes, to the relevant ANW Recorder:
Amphibians and reptiles: Anne
Dunbar Nobes ac.dunbar.nobes@gmail.com
Birds: Derek
Turnidge derek@turnidges.com
Butterflies, Bees etc: Jennifer
Hirsh jennifer@hirsh.com
Flowers: Sally
Turnidge sally@turnidges.com
Mammals: Gill
Smith richardandgill.smith@live.co.uk
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