River Sampling Results - June

27th June 2024 - the Rivercare team once again sampled the River Granta at the road bridge, counting the various creatures found. This month, a number of larger Signal Crayfish were found as well as a Bullhead fish. Good numbers of Olive and Blue-winged Olive larvae were found, many of which were tiny - only around 2mm long! Mayfly larvae and both Cased Caddis and Caseless Caddis larvae were also found, as were large numbers of Freshwater Shrimp. A surprisingly large Cranefly larva - around 4-5cm long, was also found.

Larger Signal Crayfish

Small Signal Crayfish

Bullhead

Blue-winged Olive larvae

Some of the Olive larvae were really tiny - barely visible with the naked eye

Mayfly larvae

Cased Caddis larva

Cased Caddis larvae

Caseless Caddis larva

Mayfly larva

River Limpet

Pea Clams, and unknown water snail

Southern Hawker

27th June 2024 - Derek's daughter Janet was helping clear out the pond when she found this Southern Hawker dragonfly which had just emerged. Within a short time, the wings unfurl and harden, and as the dragonfly ages over the next few days, the colours on the thorax and abdomen will become more vivid.

Small Skipper butterfly

23rd June 2024 - Polly M spotted a Small Skipper butterfly in her garden recently, perched prominently on a tall flower. This butterfly species starts to appear around mid-June, shortly before the very similar Essex Skipper. However, these two species can be distinguished by looking at the main colour of the underside of their antennae - most easily seen from the front - which are brown-orange in the Small Skipper, and completely black in the Essex Skipper.

NatureWatch Granta Park Walk

22nd June 2024.

Bee Orchid

Bee Orchid

Southern Marsh Orchid (?) and Oxeye Daisy

Canada Goose and a Greylag Goose

Barnacle Goose

Photos David F and Derek T

Common Blue Damselfly

21st June 2024 - Len M reported a good number (20+) of Common Blue Damselfly around his pond, along with a male Broad-bodied Chaser and several Red Damselfly.

First Bee Orchid on the PRV

11th June 2024 - David F reported finding the first Bee Orchid flowering on the PRV recently, along with a fine display of Viper's Bugloss and White Campion.

Interesting Insect

6th June 2024.  Len M spotted this interesting insect in his kitchen recently. A precise identification is difficult, but it would seem to be a species of Ichneumon Wasp.

Abington Late May Bank Holiday Bird Survey - Results

10th June 2024 - this year, six reports were received from the Abington Late May Bird Survey, where people were asked to record all the bird species they saw within the parishes of Great and Little Abington from 24th - 27th May. A total of 59 species were recorded. Many thanks go to Derek T for organising this, and collating the results.

Birds on Granta Park

9th June 2024 - a Great Crested Grebe was looking particularly resplendent on the Granta Park lake recently, although only the one adult has been seen there so far this year. A Swallow swooped in to take a drink, whilst a male Mandarin Duck was 'sleeping with one eye open' on the bank. Nearby, a Grey Wagtail acrobatically collected food, presumably to feed young nearby, and further on a juvenile Pied Wagtail was also seen feeding along the edge of the meadow, whilst a Buzzard flew overhead.

Great Crested Grebe

Swallow, dropping in for a drink

Male Mandarin Duck

Grey Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Juvenile Pied Wagtail

Buzzard

Andy M

Orchids galore on Granta Park

9th June 2024 - there has been a good display of orchids on Granta Park this month, with Bee Orchid flowering particular well in several areas, as well as Pyramidal Orchid around the lake.  The Oxeye Daisy were also putting on a good show.

Bee Orchid

Bee Orchid

Bee Orchid

Bee Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

Oxeye Daisy

Andy M.

May 2024 - Summary of Sightings around the Abingtons

May 2024

Amphibians and Reptiles

Smooth Newt have been spotted in a few ponds, now the water is a bit warmer they are more active. Adult Common Frog have been reported in Lewis Cres, including one in the watering can (see blog), with froglets seen in the same pond. A tadpole with back legs was also seen in a Bourn Bridge Rd pond. Finally, a Grass Snake was seen in a Cambridge Rd garden, which is great news.

 

Birds

An impressive total of 63 species were reported this month in 668 records from 9 reporters, boosted in part by the Abington Bird Survey (results coming soon). Both Swift and House Martin returned to the village this month, as well as Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat which were all heard singing, and a Raven was seen near the Essex boundary.

Both Swift and House Martin were first seen this year on 11th. Swift numbers were low initially, with only three returning to their regular nests on Hall Farm, but later on 10-12 could be seen around the recreation ground and LA church. House Martin also returned to their nest site on Mortlock Gardens, but nests have not been reported elsewhere. Swallow were seen regularly particularly on the LSA, but also around GA church.

A good variety of warblers were reported this month, with both Blackcap and Chiffchaff being regularly heard throughout the village. Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat were reported at several sites including the Roman Rd, the ORC and the LSA, but also in scrub alongside GA High St. Two male Reed Warbler were singing around GP lake (see blog), and a single report of Willow Warbler on the LSA.

Recently fledged young of several species were reported, including Blue Tit, Great Tit (also seen in a nest see blog), Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Magpie and Rook.

On GP, several Greylag were seen, as well as a pair of Canada Goose with five small goslings (see blog). Also spotted on the lake, a Little Grebe feeding two young, a Great Crested Grebe (see blog) and a pair of Mandarin Duck (see blog). An immature Mute Swan was also seen on 12th (first this year), as well as Mallard and Moorhen also with young. A Grey Heron and several Reed Bunting were spotted around the reedbed. On the cricket green, several Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush and Starling were seen feeding (see blog), and in the woods a Treecreeper was spotted, as were Great Spotted Woodpecker with young in the nest. Just one Green Woodpecker was reported, along Bourn Bridge Rd.

Away from the village centre, a Raven was seen near Abington Park Farm, and Skylark, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer were all seen along the Roman Road, on the LSA and ORC, with Linnet also spotted. Unusually, a Grey Partridge was seen along the Roman Road, with Red-legged Partridge and Pheasant reported from several locations. A Mistle Thrush was seen gathering food at a number of locations, and Song Thrush were widely heard singing.

One or two Buzzard and Red Kite were spotted regularly around the village. A Sparrowhawk was seen several times, including at a nest site and also one with prey (see blog), with a Kestrel also seen several times. A few Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull were all reported, as were a Goldcrest and a Jay at several locations.

All the usual tit and finch species were reported in gardens, as were Robin, Dunnock, Blackbird, Wren and House Sparrow. A few Collared Dove and Stock Dove were also spotted.

 

Butterflies and other Insects

A total of 100 sightings were reported in May, most of those being butterflies, but also including the first odonata reports of the year.

Brimstone, Orange Tip and Holly Blue (see blog) made up the bulk of the butterfly reports (55 out of 83), with all three species being seen regularly throughout the month. Small White, Green-veined White and Red Admiral were also seen fairly often with 6-8 reports each. Two species were recorded for the first time this year: a Meadow Brown was reported once along the Roman Road on 27th, and 1-2 Small Heath were seen on the LSA and along the Roman Road on 25th. All other species were just single reports: a Peacock on Church Lane (13th), a Painted Lady south of Chalky Rd (25th), and a Large White (25th) and a Speckled Wood (29th) both on the LSA.

Large Red Damselfly were again spotted in gardens on Cambridge Rd and Church Lane (13th-31st). There were also first reports of the year for: Common Blue Damselfly (25th, LSA), Banded Demoiselle (26th, MM bridge) and Blue-tailed Damselfly (27th, GP, see blog) all reported just once, as well as Broad-bodied Chaser which was seen twice (25th and 31st, both on the LSA).

Common Carder Bee and Early Mining Bee were both spotted for the first time this year (13th-26th), with Tree Bumblebee as well as Buff-tailed, Red-tailed and White-tailed Bumblebee all continuing to be seen. Spindle Moth caterpillars were also much in evidence this month (see blog), as were mass hatching of Garden Spiderlings and a Common Green Shield Bug (see blog).

 

Mammals

Bat - several regularly seen throughout the month in a Cambridge Rd garden, probably Pipistrelle and Serotine.

Fallow Deer – four seen on LSA on 25th.

Fox – one spotted in South Grove on 25th.

Hare – on Granta Park, six were seen on 5th, three on 12th and another three on 27th (see blog). Three were also spotted along the Roman Road, one along the ORC and one on LSA, all on 25th.

Hedgehog – one seen regularly in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden, and there was evidence of them in both a Lewis Cres garden and in a Meadow Walk garden.

Muntjac - one spotted in North Rd on 18th, one on LSA on 25th, one in GP on 27th, and one on ORC on 29th.  One also regularly seen in a Cambridge Rd garden.

 

Flora and Fungi

Green Alkanet, Common Daisy, Oxeye Daisy, Field Poppy and both Red and White Campion were reported in flower (see blog).

 

Weather

Yet another month of above-average rainfall, recorded at 88mm, double the average for May. The lowest temperature was 4.8 degrees C on 7th, with the highest being 29.5 degrees C on 12th. However, average daytime temperatures were high teens into the twenties. Winds were mainly southerly in the first half of the month, swinging to more a northerly direction later in the month.

 

ANW Programme

River Sampling took place on 17th May (see blog for results), but unfortunately our planned trip to Paxton Pits on 22nd May had to be cancelled due to bad weather. Upcoming items are an evening walk around Granta Park on Friday 21st June, and River Sampling on 27th June. The full NatureWatch 2024 Programme can be found here (Prog link).

 

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for May 2024.
David & Gaynor Farrant, Andrew Gamble, Emma Jones, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Joan Nevin, Nancy Ockendon, Gill and Richard Smith, Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.

Great Tit nestlings

28th May 2024 - whilst Emma J was tidying up around an old apple tree in her garden, she heard a loud twittering coming from a hole in the trunk. She managed to get a brief photo which revealed a colourful array of hungry mouths, although at that stage it was had to say of what species.  A few days later, she checked again, and this time the chicks had grown enough feathers to show this was the nest of a Great Tit. She reported that soon after the second photo, the family fledged.

Photo 23rd May

Photo 28th May

Water insectlife

 27th May 2024 - whilst seemingly few in number so far this year, Andy M spotted a few damselfly around the lake on Granta Park - in particular this Blue-tailed Damselfly. And at the water margins, a Water Boatman skated around, making pleasing ripples as it went.

Hare

27th May 2024 - a Hare carelessly lolloping passed Andy M on Granta Park.

Birds on Granta Park lake

27th May 2024 - Granta Park lake was buzzing with birds when Andy M walked round there recently. Immediately noticeable as he approached, were the male Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting singing from deep within the reedbed, the sound carrying easily across the lake. On the far side, a Canada Goose pair were leading their five fluffy goslings down the bank and into the water - all neatly in line! Also on the water with young was a Little Grebe, busy repeatedly diving for small fish to feed its hungry offspring. A single Great Crested Grebe watched on from the lake centre, possibly one of a pair with its partner on the nest in the reeds, whilst a pair of Mandarin Duck watched suspiciously from the bank, before taking flight towards the woods where, who knows, they may also have a nest.

Reed Warbler singing from within the reedbed

Canada Goose pair with goslings

Canada Goose pair with goslings

Little Grebe feeding young

Little Grebe feeding young

Little Grebe feeding young

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Mandarin Duck pair