June 2023 - Summary of Sightings around The Abingtons

June 2023

Amphibians and Reptiles

Relatively few reports this month

Smooth Newt - one on 1st in Cambridge Rd pond, and occasional but regular sightings in a pond on Bourn Bridge Rd.

Common Frog - two seen in pond in Westfield during a pond clean-out on 27th (see blog).

Common Toad - one seen in a garden on Chalky Rd on 28th (see blog).

 

Birds

A total of 52 species were reported this month, in a total of 375 records. A wide variety of warblers were still being seen, a Peregrine was spotted overhead, and a pair of Tufted Duck were seen on GP lake. Yellow Wagtail were seen carrying food, and unusually for this time of year, both Barn Owl and Tawny Owl were also reported.

A Peregrine was seen flying over the fields south of Chalky Rd on 6th, heading west. Perhaps not so surprising given there are several pairs nesting in and around Cambridge now.

A pair of Yellow Wagtail were seen carrying food and circling low over a patch of field south of Chalky Rd, presumably waiting to take food to a nest – great to have this ‘red-listed’ species breeding in the parish. Pied Wagtail were also seen, most often in the LSA paddocks.

A Tufted Duck pair were spotted on GP lake on 18th, as was a Grey Heron and, for the first time this year, a Great Crested Grebe. Barnacle Goose were seen on the GP cricket pitch (see blog).

A Barn Owl was heard screeching noisily around Chalky Rd on 27th, and a Tawny Owl was seen in Hall Farm, perched on a rose arch inspecting the garden for prey, at 1:30am on 30th.

Swift have three occupied nests at Hall Farm (fewer than usual), with up to 12 birds seen flying over the village. The Swallow chicks are reported as doing well in their nests on North Rd, and up to 6 adults were seen around the LSA. House Martin have at least two nests, on the shop and in Mortlock Gardens, with only 3-4 birds seen flying around. All these numbers seem low this year.

Blackcap and Chiffchaff were frequently heard singing at several sites, the latter also seen gathering food, and Common Whitethroat were heard along the ORC, and unusually in a Cambridge Rd garden. A Lesser Whitethroat was also reported once along the ORC. Corn Bunting, Linnet, Skylark and Yellowhammer were also all regularly heard on the LSA, along the ORC and along the Roman Road.  Wren, Dunnock, Blackbird and Robin were widely reported, and Goldcrest could be heard singing regularly around Hall Farm. Small groups of young Starling were seen investigating feeders in Lewis Cres, and House Sparrow were also spotted there. 

Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch were also widely reported, but more unusually a Bullfinch was seen along the ORC on 9th, although this shy finch is probably often overlooked. Good numbers of fledged young Blue Tit and Great Tit were seen on feeders later in the month, and Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit were also spotted at several sites.

Green Woodpecker were spotted probing for ants on several lawns, as were Jackdaw and Rook, and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen around Hall Farm, and on Cambridge Rd.

Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush were both reported, the latter singing strongly around Hall Farm and the Millennium Bridge. A pair of Pheasant have been regular visitors to a Cambridge Rd garden, and a Red-legged Partridge was seen in the fields alongside Bourn Bridge Rd.

A Jay was reported once along Cambridge Rd, with Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook and Carrion Crow all being widely reported. Collared Dove and Stock Dove were regularly seen in several gardens, with small numbers of Woodpigeon also reported.

One or two Red Kite were regularly seen (12 reports), often flying low searching for carrion. One or two Buzzard were also spotted (6 reports), and a Kestrel was reported three times.

Insects

A total of 73 insect reports were received in June, comprising 62 butterfly reports, 6 bee reports and 5 reports of odonata species. These numbers seemed low for the time of year.

Thirteen different butterfly species were reported in June, five of which appeared for the first time this year: a Painted Lady was spotted just once on the LSA on 11th, Meadow Brown first appeared on 13th, and was most frequently reported species this month with 12 reports. A Ringlet was spotted twice after 19th, Marbled White were seen six times after 22nd (see blog), and a Small Skipper was reported just once on 30th on the LSA (see blog).

Of the species already seen this year, Large White was seen throughout the month, as were Holly Blue, Small White and Orange Tip, with numbers of the latter three all being lower than last month. Speckled Wood was seen from 6th onwards and was more common than in May, whereas Red Admiral and Brimstone sightings were down compared with May. A Comma was seen for the first time since March - the March sightings being of over-wintered adults, with the first brood of new adults then appearing in June/July. As expected, there were no sightings for Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell or Peacock since these species are typically lower in June when ‘between’ first and second broods.

Numbers of butterfly reports were: Meadow Brown 12, Holly Blue and Speckled Wood 8, Marbled White 6, Orange Tip, Large White and Small White 5, Brimstone, Comma and Red Admiral 3, Ringlet 2, Small Skipper and Painted Lady 1.

Up to four Large Red Damselfly were seen on three occasions around a pond on Cambridge Rd, between 4th and 25th May, an Azure Damselfly was seen at the same location on 25th, and a Banded Demoiselle was spotted along the river by the Millennium Bridge on 24th.

Tree Bumblebee, Red-tailed Bumblebee and White-tailed Bumblebee were also reported, as was a Common Carder Bee. Spindle Moth caterpillars have also been reported again this month.

 

Mammals

Badger – one seen eating a wild bees nest in a High St. LA garden on 21st.

Bat - Pipistrelle and Serotine were seen in a Cambridge Rd garden on 2nd and 24th. 

Fox - one seen in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden on 9th, and another seen in a paddock by ORC on 18th.

Hare – three were spotted in a field at the back of Chalky Rd on 11th.

Hedgehog – one seen in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden on 9th.

Muntjac – one spotted in a Cambridge Rd garden on 2nd and again on 26th, and one was spotted alogn the ORC on 4th.

Roe Deer – one seen in a field at the back of Chalky Rd on 11th.

 

Flora and Fungi

Some more unusual species were reported this month: Caper Spurge, Wild Camomile and Common Comfrey were seen around Sluice Wood (see blog), and the mass of Bee Orchid on GP, and a few plants elsewhere, put on a fine display of flowers mid-month (see blog). Other species reported in flower: Field Poppy, Red Campion, White Campion.

                                                                                                 

Rivercare

A River sampling session was held at Abington Ford on 27th June (see blog).

 

Weather

A dry month with only 26 mm of rainfall, with 17mm of that over two days on the 28th - 29th. The highest temperature was 35.2 degrees C on the 3rd, with the lowest being 4.2 degrees C on the 10th, however most days the temperature was 25 degrees C or more. Winds were mainly north to northeast in the first half of the month, changing to west to southwest for the rest of June.

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for June 2023:
Barry Brooks, Peter Brunning, Lesley Crisp, David and Gaynor Farrant, Emma Jones, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Joan Nevin, Nancy Ockendon, Freda Orgee, Mak (shop), Gill Smith, Jade Taylor-Salazar, Suzan Stewart, John and Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge, June Waring.