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.