September 2020. Interesting sightings from around the Abingtons

September 2020

Amphibians and Reptiles

Occasional sightings early in the month, of both Common Frog and Common Toad amongst damp leaves in two gardens. An adult Smooth Newt was seen in a pond early in the month, and on the 16^th a Grass Snake was observed swimming across the river after a period of very warm weather.  With autumn now upon us, further sightings of amphibians and reptiles are unlikely until next spring.

Abington NatureWatch would like to thank Anne for all her support and enthusiasm, interesting sightings, and for collating and reporting ‘Amphibs’ for NatureWatch.  We wish Anne, Ross and family all the best for the future as they prepare to move to Scotland.

 

Birds

Harrier – female, either Hen Harrier or Montagu’s Harrier, seen hunting over stubble field near Abington Park Farm – largely ginger-brown with clearly visible pale ‘rump’, long tail and long narrow pointed wings. Uncertain of exact species, but either would be very unusual for Abington.

Common Sandpiper – single migrant bird continued to be seen early in the month, feeding around GP lake.

 

Summer visitors - Swallow - seen gathering on LSA, with last report on 3^rd of six birds perched on wires on LSA.  House Martin were also seen gathering on LSA early in the month, as well as a flock of 24 on Granta Park (1^st and 15^th), and two birds seen above Lewis Crescent on 27^th.

Warblers - Reed Warbler – single bird seen in undergrowth along river (1^st). Common Whitethroat – one feeding in hedgerow along ORC (10^th). Chiffchaff – heard singing in the sun near Church Lane (9^th), and two reports from along ORC (10^th).

 

Kingfisher – single bird flying downstream along river by Millennium Bridge (10^th).

Little Egret – two reports, both along river near Millennium Bridge. Grey Heron – second winter juvenile bird near pond in Cambridge Road garden, and a single bird ‘resting’ in field on LSA.

Grey Wagtail – four reports, two from along the river by the recreation ground, one seen on the LSA, and one around a garden pond on Bourn Bridge Road. Pied Wagtail – three birds feeding on cricket field, in amongst a Jackdaw flock.

Bullfinch – two birds feeding in hedgerow and calling quietly along ORC (10^th).  Goldfinch – 10-14 reported regularly on garden feeders in both LA and GA. Greenfinch – very few reports, occasional bird on feeders in Bourn Bridge Road and GA. Similarly, Chaffinch – just one report of a single bird under a feeder in GA.

Great Tit, Blue Tit - family flocks regularly around garden feeders, as well as along ORC. Small groups of Long-tailed Tit also along ORC. 

Linnet – small flock (15-20) on rough ground on GP. Skylark – a few birds seen feeding in fields near Abington Park Farm. Goldcrest – heard feeding on conifers along Chalky Road. 

House Sparrow – colony of around 20 birds on Lewis Crescent more active this month, collecting grit and visiting feeders. Robin – regularly heard singing.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – single bird heard alarm-calling from trees behind Lewis Crescent on several occasions. Green Woodpecker – several reports from LSA.

Jay – single bird regularly in last week, collecting acorns from under trees behind Lewis Crescent.  Rook and Magpie also seen collecting acorns, but ‘picking’ them straight from the trees.

Red Kite – one seen soaring above LA, and two reports from LSA. Buzzard – one hunting low over field behind Cambridge Road, three soaring above Bourn Bridge Road, likely one adult and two young, and several reports of single birds above LSA.

Kestrel – hunting from ‘lookout’ tree perches on Cambridge Road, and two other reports from GA and LSA. Sparrowhawk – female hunting over rough meadow on GP, also a female hunting around feeders on Cambridge Road, as well as two other reports.

Tawny Owl – several reports of hooting birds in LA, from oak trees behind Lewis Crescent, and from sites on the LSA throughout the month.

 

Butterflies, Bees and other insects

September was also a disappointing month for invertebrates, especially butterflies, with only 67 reports in total.  The weather was again very variable with few warm days, a few very cold days and nights and a great deal of rain and strong winds

The reports are from within the boundaries of Great and Little Abington parishes, including a few from Granta Park.  Note that the numbers given below are the number of reports of a species (not the number of butterflies).

Butterflies (12 species, 51 reports).  Butterfly reports for July were dominated by Small White and Red Admiral, also Speckled Wood but mainly from one site.  Two sightings of the rare Clouded Yellow on Granta Park, and one sighting of Painted Lady.

 

Butterfly species	Reports	Butterfly species	Reports
Small White	13	Peacock	2
Red Admiral	11	Green-veined White	2
Speckled Wood	7	Comma	1
Brimstone	7	Small Heath	1
Small Copper	3	Painted Lady	1
Large White	2	Clouded Yellow	2

 

Small Whites have been reported in very large numbers in Cambridgeshire as a whole this year, likely to have been due to the exceptionally warm spring weather.

Butterfly Conservation Cambridgeshire have reported a butterfly new to the county – the Small Blue – with colonies on Magog Down and Trumpington Meadows.  This is good news, so if you are walking to either of those sites next year, look out for them.

 

Bees (7 reports); Moths (4 reports – all Hummingbird Hawkmoth); Ladybirds (1 report),

Dragonflies (4 reports, including the unusual Willow Emerald damselfly on Granta Park).

 

Mammals

Bat – several bats were still flying regularly around a Bourn Bridge Road garden during the month and also in Cambridge Road.

Field vole - a continued presence in a Cambridge Road garden.

Grey Squirrel – a continued presence in a Cambridge Road garden and also in Bourn Bridge Road.

Hare – two hares were seen on 5th in LSA.

Hedgehog – Droppings only were spotted on a lawn in Meadow Walk

Muntjac - one seen regularly in Cambridge Road.

Flora & Fungi

Flora - no sightings reported this month.  Prolific berries on many hedgerow species.

Fungi - Giant Puffball, Field Mushroom, Shaggy Parasol, Bracket Oyster, Earthball

 

Rivercare

River level remains low, even after the September rain.  After the disappointing river sampling results in August, a further sampling will be organised in October to check the fauna before winter.

 

Weather

The rainfall for September was only 39.5 mm, with most of this falling in the last week of the month. The highest temperature was 34.8 C on the 15^th, the lowest temp being 3.9 C on the 12^th, with overall temperatures being about average for the time of year.

 

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for September 2020:
Mark Austin, Darren Bast, Peter Brunning, Lois Bull, Anne Dunbar-Nobes, David Farrant, Gaynor Farrant, Jennifer Hirsh, Carole McCrae, Andy Merryweather, Polly Merryweather, Gareth Rees, Gill Smith, Richard Smith, Derek Turnidge, Sally Turnidge. Richard Wells.

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, ORC – Old Railway Cutting.