Summary of Sightings from around the Abingtons - January 2022

January 2022

Amphibians and Reptiles

No sightings reported this month.

 

Birds

A total of 573 reports were received this month, containing 46 different species. This included 17 reports received during the Abington Bird Garden Birdwatch, which took place over the last weekend of the month, and recorded 29 different species (see separate report on the blog).

Two Siskin were seen feeding high in the trees at the end of the ORC on 25th. This finch is a winter visitor to the UK, and is most likely to be seen around villages and in gardens during in the early months of the year.

Both winter thrush species continued to be reported, with flocks of 40-50 Fieldfare and 20-30 Redwing on the LSA and in fields along Church Lane, as well as smaller numbers on GP and along the ORC.

Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush were both heard singing, particularly towards the end of the month, the latter being seen regularly along the ORC and in a Lewis Crescent garden.

Small flocks of Blue Tit,  Great Tit and Long-tailed Tit were frequently reported, as well as smaller numbers of Coal Tit, and a Blue Tit pair was seen displaying and investigating nest boxes.

Chaffinch were reported more frequently (27 reports) with up to five seen together. Good numbers of Goldfinch with a flock of 30 on the LSA, and up to six Greenfinch regularly seen on feeders.  

Reports of Starling (up to 6) and House Sparrow (up to 13) were both up this month. Wren, Robin, Dunnock and Blackbird were all regularly reported, and up to four Collared Dove also regularly seen in a Lewis Crescent garden. A Goldcrest was spotted on two occasions.

A male Blackcap was spotted several times throughout the month, visiting the feeders in a Lewis Crescent garden, with two also reported during the BGBW.

One or two Great Spotted Woodpecker were frequently visitors to several garden feeders, with 1-2 Green Woodpecker seen more occasionally at several sites.  A Jay and 1-2 Magpie were also regularly seen in some gardens.

A single Grey Wagtail, a Pied Wagtail and two Meadow Pipit were all spotted on GP on 1st, as well as five Barnacle Goose, around 50 Mallard, a Moorhen and a Reed Bunting around the lake.  Also on 1st, the unusually high number of eleven Grey Heron was seen on Hood’s Meadow.

One or two Buzzard were spotted at several locations around the villages, and a single Red Kite was reported seven times, on one occasion flying low over a Cambridge Rd garden. A Sparrowhawk was observed hunting pigeons over a Bourn Bridge Rd garden, and a Kestrel was also occasionally seen around GP and the Perse sports fields.

A flock of over 100 Black-headed Gull was seen in the Grange Farm fields, with lower numbers also reported on GP where the flock also included six Great Black-backed Gull, and a flock of six Lapwing was seen unusually flying over Lewis Crescent on 6th.

 

Butterflies, Bees and other insects

Note that Jennifer Hirst has decided to step down as Insect Recorder. Abington NatureWatch would like to thank Jennifer for her eleven years of support and for acting as our insect recorder. We now have an excellent record of insects over the last few years thanks to her efforts. 

Polly Merryweather has kindly offered to take over as Insect Recorder from January 2022, so please continue to send your sightings, to Polly at polly.merryweather61@gmail.com

The first butterfly report of the year was of two Peacock butterflies on 13th January along the edge of the recreation ground.

A White-tailed Bumblebee was reported on 1st January in a West Field garden, and two reports of Buff-tailed Bumblebee, out on the warmer days, one on North Road on 14th and one in Lewis Crescent on 27th.

 

Mammals

Field Mouse – one seen in Lewis Crescent on 29th, under bird feeders.

Fox – one dead by the side of Cambridge Road on 20th, and one walking across a garden in Cambridge Road on 22nd.

Hare – one seen on LSA on 1st.

Mole – much evidence of molehills on the Recreation ground throughout the month.

Muntjac – one seen on GP on 1st, and one on ORC on 17th.

 

Flora & Fungi

Snowdrop and Aconite in flower at several sites around the villages, including Sluice Wood and Lagden’s Grove on GP.  Hazel catkins also reported.

Rivercare

No reports this month.

 

Weather

January was much drier than average with only 20.5 mm of rain which all fell in the first two weeks. There was a prolonged spell of frosty weather during the second two weeks, which was good to see as a cold snap in the winter is always beneficial. The highest temperature recorded was 16.3 degrees on the 29th, but 16.2 degrees was also recorded on the 1st with the New Year being the warmest on record. The lowest temperature was minus 6.5 on the 6th. Overall, it was a very quiet month with little or no wind.

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for January 2022:

Roger Atkin, Barry Brooks, Lois Bull, David Farrant, Gaynor Farrant, Carolyn and Gordon Hannah, Jennifer Hirst, Emma Jones, Karen Langford, Carole McCrae, Len and Rosemary Mead, Andy Merryweather, Polly Merryweather, Freda Orgee, Brian Parris, Gill Smith, Jade Taylor-Salazar, John and Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge, Sally Turnidge, Justine Upham, John Webb.