August 2024 - Summary of Sightings around the Abingtons

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 26^th.

 

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 9^th, 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 10^th. 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 12^th, 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 14^th (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 19^th August (results on blog), and the final river sampling of the year is on 19^th September. The full NatureWatch 2024 Programme can be found here (Prog link).

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for August 2024.
Yvonne Coulthard, Tricia Cullimore, David & Gaynor Farrant, Carole McCrae, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Len Mead, Nancy Ockendon, Freda Orgee, Barbara Phippen, Gill and Richard Smith, James Snell, Terry Tinkler, John and Maggie Turner Derek Turnidge, John Webb.