May 2022
Amphibians and Reptiles
Smooth Newt – several reports in a couple of ponds in
LA, and an excellent discovery of four Common Frog in a pond in GA.
Birds
A total of 51 species
were seen or heard this month, in a total of 352 reports. There were more regular
reports of several summer visitors, including the first Swift and House Martin reports
this year.
A single Swift
was first seen flying over on 1st (cf 4th, 5th and 8th in previous years) with
6-8 heard screaming over GA church, and returning to nest sites nearby by 14th. House Martin first returned on 10th,
with 1-2 seen over the village in subsequent days, and Swallow were seen
commonly on the LSA throughout the month, with up to 20 seen around the paddocks
(15th).
Unusually for the Abingtons
in recent years, the ‘purring’ call of a Turtle Dove was reported near
the Millennium Bridge on 12th. Whilst not confirmed visually, or heard subsequently,
it was thought to be a bird passing through. Equally unusually, two Egyptian
Goose were seen in a High Street garden, near a renovated pond, this species
being last reported in 2013.
Three male and two female
Mandarin Duck were seen on GP on 3rd, with one female known to be
nesting (13th). A subsequent visit (18th) indicated hatched
eggshells, but no birds seen nearby.
Several species of
warbler continued to be heard singing regularly at several sites, including Blackcap,
Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, and
two Reed Warbler were heard singing from the reeds around GP lake
(18th). A Grey Heron and four Greylag were also seen on the GP
lake.
Mistle Thrush were
spotted several times, and Song Thrush were heard singing, near continuously
around mid-month, as were Skylark, Wren and Goldcrest, with
the latter believed to be nesting nearby. A Treecreeper was reported on
GP, and 1-2 Great Spotted Woodpecker were occasionally seen.
A female Bullfinch
was reported near Church Lane (5th), with small numbers of Chaffinch, Goldfinch
and Greenfinch regularly seen in gardens and at other sites. A Coal Tit was reported three times, and
1-2 Long-tailed Tit twice, as well as the regular Great Tit and Blue
Tit sightings. Young Great Tit were seen being fed by an adult, as well as young Goldfinch, were both spotted mid-month in Cambridge Rd and Lewis Cres
gardens.
Pied Wagtail
continued to be reported around the Institute, on the LSA and on the GP cricket
green, with Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and Red-legged Partridge
all seen along the Roman Road on 12th.
Buzzard, Kestrel
and Red Kite were all reported from several village sites, and Sparrowhawk
were reported returning to hunt again in several gardens.
Butterflies and other insects
This month saw the first
reports this year of three butterfly species, as well as the first damselfly and
dragonfly reports. However, compared to April, there were generally fewer
butterfly reports. During May, a total of 96 records were received (butterflies
80, odonata 7, bees 4, other 5).
Butterflies: Butterfly
species first reported this year during May were: Small Copper (9th, 1
report), Small Heath (from 12th, 2 reports) and Painted Lady (20th
- 22nd, 4 reports).
There continued to be good numbers of Holly
Blue, Brimstone, Orange Tip and Red Admiral reported, the
latter being up considerably on previous months. In contrast, sightings of Peacock,
Small White and Small Tortoiseshell were all lower than in April.
Number of Butterfly reports: Holly Blue 17,
Brimstone 13, Orange Tip 10, Red Admiral 9, Small White 7, Green-veined White 5,
Peacock 4, Painted Lady 4, Speckled Wood 3, Small Heath 2. Others: Comma,
Common Blue, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell and Small Copper, all 1.
Odonata: Several Large Red Damselfly were reported
from 6th (5 reports, two sites), and both an Azure Damselfly and a
Broad-bodied Chaser were seen in a Cambridge Rd pond on 25th.
Other: Early Mining Bee continue to be reported on the LSA and in some gardens, and there were two reports of Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumblebee. Dark-edged Beefly, Harlequin, Hornet and Cockchafer were also reported, as well as both Spindle Moth and Mullein Moth caterpillars.
Mammals
Bat - several at
dusk over Cambridge Rd garden, likely both Pipistrelle and Serotin, on 5th and
28th.
Wood Mouse –
one in Cambridge Road garden (28th).
Muntjac – one wandering
along verge near Granta Park (8th). An adult and young in Sluice Wood (18th), one
along the ORC (24th), and several sightings of a young one in Lewis Cres garden.
Flora
The following wildflower species were reported in flower this month: Cowslip, Red Campion, Speedwell, Common Storksbill, Forget-me-not, Cow Parsley, Oxeye Daisy, Dog Rose, Hawthorn, Buttercup, White Dead-nettle, Herb Robert.
Rivercare
The team reinitiated river sampling again, with a trip on 31st. There was a good turnout of eight in all, including several new recruits. We look forward to seeing them again in future!
A good range of species were found, mostly in small numbers, with lots of tiny Olive Mayfly. Four fish and four Signal Crayfish were also found. Full report to follow.
Weather
Another dry month but unlike April a
smattering of showers each week with the overall total 24.3 mm. The highest
temperature was 27.9 degrees C on the 16th and the lowest being 1.2 degrees C
on the 29th. Generally temperatures were about average for the time of year, and
winds were predominantly westerly with a few more gusty days.
Many thanks to all those who contributed
reports of their sightings for May 2022:
Mark
Austin, Darren Bast, Peter Brunning, Mike Bull, David Farrant, Gaynor Farrant, Stewart
Gilmour, Jennifer Hirst, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy Merryweather, Polly
Merryweather, Gareth Rees, Marion Rusted, Sally Simmons, Gill Smith, Derek
Turnidge, John Turner, Maggie Turner.
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