June 2021. Interesting sightings from around the Abingtons.

June 2021

Amphibians and Reptiles

Smooth Newt – several; sightings in LA ponds this month.

Common Frog – two reports in ponds in GA and LA.

 

Birds

June saw an increase in the number of recently fledged and young birds reported, and with this the return of more birdsong as males re-establish their territories, particularly Blackcap, Wren and Song Thrush. A total of 439 reports were received in June, containing 49 different species.

Cuckoo – five reports of a single male heard calling on 9th and 12th, from around the High Street, GA and the ORC.

Kingfisher – single sighting of a bird flying along the river in Sluice Wood (26th).

House Martin – regular reports of up to six seen over Mortlock Gardens, but no reports of birds nesting around the school this year. Swift – also regularly seen around both churches, and over the High Street GA, with up to 8 seen and heard screaming. Swallow – few reports this month, with two seen over Lewis Crescent.

Warblers – several Blackcap and Chiffchaff continue to be regularly heard at several sites, with 1-2 Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat seen occasionally along the Roman Road and the ORC.

Owls and Raptors – Tawny Owl - an adult and two fledged young were seen on GP, and Barn Owl - three reports of the screeching call heard late evening near Lewis Crescent. Sparrowhawk were reported returning to hunt in gardens, and 7 reports of a Red Kite patrolling low over both Lewis Crescent and Cambridge Road. Regular sightings of a Kestrel and a Buzzard.

Nuthatch – a single bird made a welcome return to feeders on High St, LA. Great Spotted Woodpecker – both adult and young birds regularly seen visiting feeders in several gardens, and a Green Woodpecker was regularly seen in a Cambridge Road garden.

Grey Wagtail – one feeding downstream of Millennium Bridge. Pied Wagtail – single report of one feeding on a house roof in GA.  Mallard – a female and 8 duckling by the Millennium Bridge.

Blue Tit, Great Tit – the appearance of young birds widely reported this month, with groups of 6-8 seen searching for insects in the undergrowth and on feeders. Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit – small numbers regularly seen in a Cambridge Road garden.

Bullfinch – unusually, a male seen a Lewis Crescent garden (22nd). Chaffinch – 1-2 seen more regularly in gardens this month, alongside the regularly reported Goldfinch (up to 7) and Greenfinch (2-4), including young. 

Starling – small flocks of 10-20, including young.  Dunnock – recently fledged birds also reported.

Corn Bunting, Linnet, Yellowhammer – small numbers (2-5) seen and heard singing on the ORC and Roman Road. Skylark – up to 8 singing together over the fields south of the LSA .

 

Butterflies, Bees and other insects

June has been a very disappointing and worrying month, with only 123 reports (in June 2020 there were 476 reports). This was probably caused by the very unsettled weather.

All these reports are from within Great and Little Abington parishes. Note that the numbers below are the number of reports of sightings, not the numbers of butterflies or other insects seen.

June has been a very disappointing and worrying month, with only 123 reports (in June 2020 there were 476 reports). This was probably caused by the very unsettled weather.

All these reports are from within the boundaries of Great and Little Abington. Note that the numbers given are not the numbers of butterflies and other insects but the number of times a species was reported by someone.

Butterflies (83 reports)

Holly Blue, 16;  Red Admiral, 13;  Brimstone, 10;  Small White, 8;  Small Tortoiseshell, 7;  

Meadow Brown, 5;  Painted Lady, 5;  Orange Tip, 4;  Small Heath, 3;  Small Copper, 2;  

Green-veined White, 2;  Speckled Wood, 2;  Small Skipper, 2;  Large Skipper, 1; Large White, 2;  Gatekeeper, 1.   (16 species, last year 23 species)

Moths and caterpillars (5 reports)

One report each of: Elephant Hawk Moth, Brimstone Moth, Treble Bar Moth.

Spindle Moth caterpillars, Mullein caterpillars, Sawfly caterpillar.

Damselflies and Dragonflies (11 reports)

Large Red Damselfly, 4;  Azure Damselfly, 3;  White-legged Damselfly, 1; Black-tailed Skimmer, 1.

‘orange’ damselfly spp unknown, 1;  ‘medium-sized blue’ dragonfly, spp unknown, 1

Bees (14 reports)

Buff-tailed Bumblebee, 3;   White-tailed Bumblebee, 6;   Red-tailed Bumblebee, 1; Honey Bee, 3;   Tree Bumblebee; 1.

Ladybirds (10 reports)

Seven-spot Ladybird, 4;   Harlequin Ladybird, 5;   Two-spot Ladybird, 1.

 

Mammals

Bat – reported over a Cambridge Road and Bourn Bridge Rd gardens regularly throughout the month, and several feeding over the river near the Millennium Bridge (30th).  The latter appeared larger than Pipistrelle - maybe Daubenton’s?

Fox – one crossing North Rd on 6th, and two young spotted in the ORC on 23rd.

Grey Squirrel – six seen in a Cambridge Rd garden at the beginning of June, with individuals regularly seen throughout the village.

Muntjac – one crossing Cutting Rd on 6th, and one in a Cambridge Rd garden at the beginning of the month. One also walking along Church Lane near the church mid-morning on 30th.

Flora & Fungi

Wild flowers reported in bloom this month: Red Campion, White Campion, Green Alkanet, Goat’s Beard, Smooth Hawk’s-Beard, Forget-me-not, Oxeye Daisy, Common Poppy, Dog Rose, Common Broomrape, Elder, Cow Parsley, Hemlock, Meadow Vetchling, Tufted Vetch.

 

Rivercare

The month started with a sampling session at the ford, which showed that the usual river fly larvae are starting to return after the recent drought conditions. A small Trout and Bullhead fish were recorded. Meanwhile, the monthly inspection and litter picking have continued, this month by the Smith team while others were away.   

 

Weather

Rainfall for the month was 48 mm so very similar to last year. The highest temperature was 30.9 degrees on the 2nd and the lowest 7 degrees on the 24th June. Overall temperatures were about or slightly above average. It was a pretty quiet month with light winds.

 

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for June 2021:

Mark Austin, Darren Bast, Peter Brunning, Lois Bull, Mike Bull, David Farrant, Gaynor Farrant, Jennifer Hirsh, Susan Hodges, Carole McCrae, Andy Merryweather, Polly Merryweather, Freda Orgee, Marion Rusted, Kelly Shackleton, Gill Smith, Derek Turnidge,

 
Please email your sightings, within the Abington parishes, to the relevant ANW Recorder:
Amphibians & Reptiles    Gaynor Farrant                gaynorfarrant198@btinternet.com
Birds:                             Derek Turnidge               derek@turnidges.com
Butterflies, Bees etc:       Jennifer Hirsh                  jennifer@hirsh.com
Mammals:                       Gill Smith                        richardandgill.smith@live.co.uk
Flora recorder 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. AbPkFm – Abington Park Farm.