Sunday, 2 February 2020

January 2020 - Interesting sightings around the Abingtons


January 2020
Amphibians and Reptiles
No sightings reported this month. 

Birds
Brambling – a single male seen under garden feeders with a flock of Chaffinch, on Lewis Crescent (14th - 22nd).  First report of this winter visitor this season.
Fieldfare – early in month, flocks of 5-10 around Granta Park and on LSA, with similar numbers of Redwing on GP, and in fields behind Cambridge Road.  A sizeable mixed flock also seen in the fields near the sawmill on A1307 (28th).
Blackcap – single report of an over-wintering male, in a garden on Cambridge Road.
Starling – 1000-2000 continue to murmurate over GP most evenings, prior to roosting in the reed bed. Small flocks of c50-100 feeding at various locations during day, in particular on GP and the Perse sports fields.  Reed Bunting – c10 also regularly roost in the GP lake reedbeds.
Mixed flocks of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit and finches, mostly Goldfinch and Chaffinch, in gardens, along the Old Coach Road and in Lagden’s Grove.  More reports of small numbers (1‑6) of Greenfinch this month.
Great Spotted Woodpecker – one on a garden feeder on High Street, and feeding in old trees behind Lewis Crescent and along Old Coach Road.
Green Woodpecker – occasional sighting on GP, and in a garden along Cambridge Road.
Nuthatch – two on a garden feeder in LA.
Treecreeper – one seen in Sluice Wood, and one in a garden on West Field.
Goldcrest – one in conifer tree in a garden on Cambridge Road.
Barn Owl – one heard screeching around GA church (20th).  Tawny Owl – heard hooting on several occasions early in month.
Buzzard – two around Sluice Wood and Perse sports fields, and one over West Field.
Sparrowhawk – one seen in a Cambridge Road garden. A young male was also found dead along Cambridge Road and reported to RSPB.
Red Kite – several reports of 1-2 around LA church, over West Field and Bourn Bridge Road, and over fields near the Roman Road.
Barnacle Goose – 5-7 on GP cricket pitch until 8th.
Cormorant – single bird on GP lake on several occasions.  A few Moorhen, and 10-20 Mallard on the lake and along the river throughout the month.
Little Egret – two reports of a bird along river in Sluice Wood (12th and 27th).
Grey Heron – 7 on Bancroft Farm Meadow (27th), and single bird around GP lake. 
Grey Wagtail – one along the river edge near sluice (2nd).
Mistle Thrush - 2 heard singing from treetops in Sluice Wood (27th). Several reports around the villages of Song Thrush, also singing.
Jay – several reports of single birds on GP and in gardens.
Jackdaw and Rook – large flock of c130 feeding in ploughed field along Pampisford Road.  Also a flock of c30 on Perse Sport Fields.
Herring Gull – 100+ over Sluice Wood and Perse Fields, and a single Great Black-backed Gull.
Pheasant – occasional sightings along Old Coach Road, and in gardens.

Butterflies, Bees and other insects
As expected a very quiet month due to the variable weather and lack of sunshine. Only 2 reports in the month:
Bees – two Buff-tailed bumblebees.
Butterflies – one report of a hibernating butterfly in a house, species unknown.
Butterfly hibernation
On BBC’s Winterwatch programme, there was a report from a man has been recording hibernating butterflies which he discovered in an old brick garden shed.  The butterflies are mainly Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock, and are found in dark places under shelves or under the roof.  He has been recording when they first arrive and when they leave; he has been surprised to find that they have in the last couple of years been starting to hibernate earlier, even as early as mid-June.  He is reporting his findings to Butterfly Conservation.
It is not known why this is happening, but it could account for the lower numbers of the Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in late June or through July that we have noticed here.
If you see hibernating butterflies (not always easy to identify the species), then please report them to Jennifer for our Abington records. Do not on any account touch or move them, or they will die. 

Mammals
Fallow Deer – Two presumably separate herds, each of c12; one near Abington Park Farm GA and the second in fields near Grange Farm, LA.
Muntjac Deer – one seen on Granta Park.
Fox – Two in the early morning in a garden on Church Lane, LA.

Flora
Snowdrops – first few clumps in flower on 5th, with large areas fully out by the end of the month.
Aconites – first flowers around New Year. Following the mild weather towards the end of the month, large areas were seen in full flower, particularly in Sluice Woods and more unusually, along the Roman Road.
Hazel Catkins – showing well mid-month in Sluice Wood, GP.
Wild Arum – glossy green leaves showing in Lagden’s Grove, some with black spots - in abundance by the end of the month.

Rivercare
Nothing to report this month.

Weather
Rainfall for January was 51.5 mm.  Generally mild, with a couple of short colder spells.  Minimum temperature of minus 4.2ºC, with a high of 9.2ºC.

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for January 2020:
Barry Brookes, Peter Brunning, Vicki Brunning, Audrey Bugg, Anne Dunbar-Nobes, David Farrant, Gaynor Farrant, Robin Harman, Jennifer Hirsh, Andy Merryweather, Brian Parris, Gareth Rees, Gill Smith, John and Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge, Sally Turnidge.

Please email your sightings, 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
Mammals:                       Gill Smith                         richardandgill.smith@live.co.uk
Flora:   Currently vacant - if interested, please contact David Farrant for more details.

Abbreviations: GA – Great Abington, LA – Little Abington, LSA – Land Settlement Association, GP – Granta Park

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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)