12th September 2024 - Andy M noticed a couple of Jay returning to his garden of late, after a few months of being away. They regularly return at about this time of year to stash acorns from the Oak tree at the end of the garden, but this one seemed also to be partial to the fallers from the apple tree.
6th September 2024 - Andy M spotted this rather lovely-looking Red Admiral in his garden.
This species is interesting in that whilst common throughout the UK, it is an immigrant that arrives here in May or June from North Africa and southern Europe. This major influx slowly works its way northwards through the UK during the summer, with further individuals continuing to arrive in the south. Then, come mid-August, they start to retreat back south with many re-migrating back across the channel, leaving just small numbers to potentially over-winter here.
2nd September 2024 - there are some good-sized mixed tit flocks around at the moment, their numbers swelled by all this year's young, and in amongst them can often be found one or two birds of other species, moving with the flock as they search for food. Andy M spotted two Chiffchaff in amongst such a flock in his garden recently, one in smart new plumage, and one rather more disheveled!
2nd September 2024 - a Common Frog was out and about recently, in amongst the stones at the edge of the flower bed in Andy M's garden.
August 2024
Amphibians
and Reptiles
Just one report this
month, of a Common Frog under some foliage in a flower bed in a Lewis
Cres garden on 26th.
Birds
A total of 51 species were
reported this month in 251 records. A Kingfisher was spotted along the river, a
Treecreeper was seen in Sluice Wood, and a Tufted Duck on the GP lake. It would
seem that the local Swift left around the 9th, with groups of House
Martin and Swallow also seen gathering ahead of their migration, and Tawny Owl
started to be heard calling again.
A Kingfisher
was spotted early one morning along the river by the recreation ground, only
the second report this year, the first being in April. A female Tufted Duck
was spotted on GP Lake (see
blog), as was a Treecreeper in the woods near the sluice, both on
18th.
Groups of 20-30 Swift
were seen wheeling above the recreation ground early in the month, and birds
were last seen on their Hall Farm nest site on 9th. This seems likely to be the
last sighting of the year. Similarly, flocks of 10-20 House Martin and 5-6
Swallow were seen gathering around the village centre and on the LSA,
and House Martin were also seen around a thus-far unreported nest site
on Bourn Bridge Road, which is good news.
A Reed Warbler
was spotted in the reedbed on GP on 18th, and a Chiffchaff was
occasionally heard singing towards the end of the month. Larger flocks of up to
100 Starling were spotted feeding in the paddocks on the LSA, and charms
of 15-40 Goldfinch, most of which still in juvenile plumage, were reported
in Lewis Cres and GP (see
blog).
Unusually, a pair of Bullfinch
was seen on the LSA, with small numbers of Greenfinch, Goldfinch and
occasionally 1-2 Chaffinch seen around many feeders, as well as 6-8 Blue
Tit alongside smaller numbers of Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit and
Coal Tit, and an occasional Goldcrest.
On GP lake, the usual
gaggle of 30+ Canada Goose and up to four Greylag, was joined by
seven Barnacle Goose on 18th. Up to 60 Mallard, still mostly in ‘female-type’
eclipse plumage, three Moorhen and a Little Grebe with one young were
also seen, as well as a Grey Heron. Up to 50 Pied Wagtail were
spotted feeding on the GP cricket field, with smaller numbers seen on the LSA
and elsewhere. Unusually, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Lapwing
were also seen flying over.
A juvenile Great
Spotted Woodpecker was regularly seen on Hall Farm, with a Green Woodpecker
also spotted there, as well as on Cambridge Rd and GP. Two Mistle Thrush
were reported on GP on 18th, a Linnet seen on the LSA, and a Jay
was seen on Hall Farm and in Westfield (see
blog).
Up to five Red Kite
are regularly seen around Grange Farm, and a Buzzard was spotted at
several locations. A Kestrel was reported on Cambridge Rd and on GP, and
a juvenile Sparrowhawk was seen trying its luck around the feeders on
Lewis Cres. From mid-month, Tawny Owl were heard calling at several locations,
as territories once again start to be established.
Butterflies
and other Insects
A total of 110 sightings
were reported in August. These were largely butterfly reports (80), but also
included a good number of odonata reports (18).
A total of 14 butterfly
species were reported in August, with the predominant species being Brimstone
and Small White, the latter, like many butterfly species, having their
second brood peak in August. Good numbers of Red Admiral and Green-veined
White were also seen. A Painted Lady was spotted six times throughout
the month, and at several locations, with Comma and Large White also
being well reported. Species such as Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper have
just a single brood each year peaking around July/August, whereas others such as
Common Blue, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Small Heath
all have two broods with the second one peaking around August, and all these species
were reported in small numbers this month. Small Tortoiseshell should also
be common this month, although this species seems to have crashed this year and
there were no sightings locally.
Total butterfly
reports received in August were: Small White (15), Brimstone (14), Green-veined
White and Red Admiral (both 7), Painted Lady (6), Meadow Brown, Comma and Large
White (all 5), Gatekeeper and Peacock (both 4), Speckled Wood (3), Common Blue
and Holly Blue (both 2) and Small Heath (1).
Of the odonata, the
predominant species reported this month was Southern Hawker, with eight
reports from several sites (see
blog). Common Darter was also well reported, with six seen together
in a Church Lane garden. Six Common Blue Damselfly and two Large Red Damselfly
were also seen at the same location. Additionally, around GP, Broad-bodied Chaser,
Red-eyed Damselfly and unusually an Emerald Damselfly were also
all seen on 18th (see
blog).
Buff-tailed Bumblebee,
White-tailed Bumblebee and Common Carder Bee were all reported, and towards
the end of the month a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was regularly seen in
a Lewis Cres garden. A Jersey Tiger Moth was reported twice (see
blog), and a Lime Hawkmoth caterpillar was also seen (see
blog). A number of moth species were also reported on GP (see
blog) and Lewis Cres (see
blog).
A good number of insect
species were seen during the NatureWatch trip to Wicken Fen on 14th, including
several not usually seen around the Abingtons, such as Migrant Hawker, Brown
Hawker and Ruddy Darter (see
blog).
Mammals
Bat – one seen
regularly throughout the month in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden.
Fox – evidence (i.e.
droppings) was seen several times during the month in a Lewis Cres. Garden.
Hedgehog – one
was found trapped in an outbuilding on 8th, and one was seen in a Bourn Bridge
Rd garden on 22nd, the first sighting in that place for years.
Muntjac – a
young one was caught in the railings on the Millennium Bridge (and later
released) on 10th. One seen in LA churchyard on 25th, and one was spotted
in Lagden’s Grove on 18th.
Roedeer – ten
were seen in a field behind Chalky Rd on 22nd.
Flora
and Fungi
Purple Loosestrife reported in bloom on GP (see
blog), and a good clump of Oyster Mushroom was spotted in Sluice Wood (see
blog).
Weather
Definitely an arid
month with just 15.25mm of rainfall. The highest temperature was on the 12th,
when 37.2 degrees C was recorded, on the hottest day in Cambridge this year.
The coldest was 7.5 degrees C on both the 17th and 19th. Winds were
predominantly south westerly.
ANW
Programme
The trip to NT Wicken Fen on 14th (our last for this year) was attended by seven of us, with a good variety of butterfly, dragonfly and damselfly species being seen (see blog). River Sampling took place on 19th August (results on blog), and the final river sampling of the year is on 19th September. The full NatureWatch 2024 Programme can be found here (Prog link).
25th August 2024 - on a 'generally quiet' walk, nature-wise around Granta Park, David F noted a few Mallard on the lake, and a small flock of Goldfinch feeding around the cricket field.
31st August 2024 - there have been more moths around in the evenings recently, with some finding their way into the house, where Andy M took the opportunity to photograph them. With around 2,500 species in the UK, moths can be tricky to identify, and the identification below is a good guess at best, based on a quick internet search!
31st August 2024 - Andy M is lucky enough to have a colony of House Sparrow in his garden, and on warm sunny days they come out to dust-bathe on the garage roof, or on a bare patch of soil. Apparently the dust helps remove parasites and keep their feathers in good condition.
11th August 2024 - earlier in the month, a good number of the striking Jersey Tiger moth were seen. This one was in Andy M's garden. And soon afterwards, on 17th, Carole M also saw one in her garden.
Now a resident species in the UK, although some individuals are still likely to be immigrants from the near continent, and whilst mostly seen in southern coast regions of the UK, they are spreading east, and can be seen in East Anglia most years.
21st August 2024 - John W spotted this female Southern Hawker dragonfly, apparently laying eggs in one of his small 'bucket ponds'.
19th August 2024 - the RiverCare team undertook their monthly river sampling of the Granta at the ford in Abington, and the results are shown below. Generally, the sample was a bit more spare than in previous months, but most of the usual species were present, but in lower numbers. More unusual were the two Stone Loach and two Bullhead fish caught in the sampling.
18th August 2024 - a female Common Darter was seen in Lagden's Grove on Granta Park, well away from water and perching on flower stems and leaves, occasionally darting out to catch a passing insect. Near the lake, a more uncommon species, an Emerald Damselfly - this group of damselflies being unusual in that they hold their wings diagonally to the body when resting, rather than alongside the body as is more usual for damselflies. Andy M.
18th August 2024 - walking through the wildflower meadows on Granta Park, Andy M spotted a few Common Blue butterflies - the males showing their bright blue upperside wings whilst in flight, with the female upper sides being mostly brown with a blush of blue near the body. A Large White was seen nearer the river, being mostly white, but with the black tip extending down the side of the upper wing, and two Meadow Brown were seen flying around, locked together as a mating pair.
A small, and very daintily patterned Latticed Heath moth was seen on Lady's Bedstraw flowers, and a strikingly patterned Treble-bar moth seen resting in the long grass.
18th August 2024 - Andy M took his camera for a walk around Granta Park, and was very happy to see a female Tufted Duck on the lake, alongside a considerable number of Canada Goose, several Barnacle Goose and a Greylag. The large number of Mallard were still in moult, so all appeared as if in female plumage, although the males could still be distinguished by their yellow-green bill, whereas the female bill is more brown and orange. A good sized flock of House Martin flitted overhead, occasionally 'splashing- down' to take a drink or a brief bathe, whilst in the reed bed the Reed Warbler were still skulking around, making their grating, short contact calls. On the cricket green a dispersed flock of Pied Wagtail, including many juveniles at this time of year, scurried around feeding, on flies, grubs etc.
18th August 2024 - our last planned NatureWatch trip of the year was to Wicken Fen to see dragonflies, butterflies and anything else of interest. Seven members and a grandchild joined the boardwalk route around the only remaining unimproved fen, in lovely sunny if slightly breezy weather.
The dragonflies did not take long to find, with several darters seen hunting along the ditches, where they were more sheltered from the breeze. The small ponds provided lovely views of a Migrant Hawker dragonfly and a Moorhen, and a winding walk through the meadow revealed Ruddy Darter looking out from its blackberry perch, and a resting female Migrant Hawker. The latter species has characteristic brown and yellow patches on the thorax ('body') and a yellow T-shape on the second segment of the abdomen ('tail'). Further along, on the open water of the lode, Brown Hawker was seen patrolling over the water (the only dragonfly with brown wings), and Blue-tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly and Azure Damselfly resting on the vegetation there.
Along the more shady part of the walk, Common Darter looked out from their perches, with Peacock, Red Admiral, Essex Skipper and Speckled Wood butterflies all being seen there, whilst a group of Swallow flitted overhead, and the yellow flowers of Greater Bladderwort provided a splash of vibrant colour in the ditches there.
A few of the group then continued to Adventurer's Fen, where a Southern Hawker dragonfly was spotted resting, this species having pairs of blue dots down the abdomen (in common with other species), but with the dots on the last two segments characteristically linked to become blue bands. A Little Owl could also be seen on the wood pile where it, and maybe its relatives, have lived for many years.
