Sunday, 24 November 2024

Golden Plover and Lapwing flock

21st November 2024 - a good-sized flock of around 150 Golden Plover and about 100 Lapwing were seen swirling above the fields adjacent to the Old Railway Cutting by Andy M and John T recently. Not usually seen this close to the village, they settled in a newly-sown field and spread out to feed. 

Golden Plover                                               [photo John T]



Golden Plover                                             [photos Andy M]

Mammals on the Settlements

21st November 2024 - Andy M spotted a number of mammal species along the Old Railway Cutting and on the Settlements recently, including Rabbit, Grey Squirrel and a good-sized herd of Fallow Deer.

Rabbit

Grey Squirrel

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

Fallow Deer

Redwing - winter thrush visitors

21st November 2024 - Andy M spotted a small flock of Redwing along Chalky Rd recently. This thrush species, along with the Fieldfare, visit the UK from Scandinavia during the winter.

Pink fungus

20th November 2024 - Emma Jones spotted this rather lovely pink fungus recently, possibly the Wrinkled Pink Fungus (Rhodotus palmatus).


Autumn colours around the village

17th November 2024 - Polly took a short walk around the village, noting the gorgeous autumn leaf colours and clear blue skies.







Mixed-species Tit flocks

18th November 2024 - unusually, Andy M had a visit from both Coal Tit and Long-tailed Tit, in amongst a mixed-species tit flock consisting mostly of Blue Tit and Great Tit

The Coal Tit, the smallest tit species in the UK, has a characteristic white stripe on the back of a head and pale rusty flanks, and is often be associated with conifers where it feeds on seeds from cones. Long-tailed Tit often fly around in small groups, and have a characteristic long tail and pale pink colouration.

Coal Tit

Coal Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Great Tit

Blackcap visitor

8th November 2024 - Andy M spotted a pair of Blackcap in his garden recently, feeding on the small red Euonymus berries. The male of this warbler species has a black 'cap', and the female has a rusty red 'cap'. At this time of year, these individuals are likely to be winter visitors from mainland Europe.

Female Blackcap

Thursday, 7 November 2024

October 2024 - Summary of Sightings from the Abingtons

October 2024

Amphibians and Reptiles

Just two sightings of a Common Frog in Lewis Cres around mid-month (see blog).

 

Birds

A total of 46 species reported this month in 262 records. A Redwing was seen at the end of the month, and Blackbird returned to gardens in good numbers to fest on berries. A few winter migrant Blackcap were also seen.

A Redwing was seen on 30th on the LSA, and whilst Fieldfare have yet to be seen in the parishes, they have been reported just north of here. The number of Blackbird visiting some gardens rose noticeably this month, especially where there are berry-bearing bushes.

A male Blackcap was seen twice, on 29th and 31st, feeding on berries in a Lewis Cres garden. These birds are likely to be migrants arriving here from eastern Europe, whereas the birds that bred here in the summer will have migrated to southern Europe.

A few Chaffinch were seen under feeders, after an absence of several months from some gardens. Goldfinch were also noted in good numbers (up to 12), alongside a few Greenfinch. Several Blue Tit and Great Tit were often seen, with 1-2 Coal Tit appearing in several gardens, and small flocks of Long-tailed Tit spotted along the ORC, Sluice Wood and in a few gardens.

One or two Jay were seen regularly visiting several gardens, often collecting acorns. Goldcrest were spotted at several locations, with Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker spotted around Hall Farm and on Granta Park. Robin, Dunnock and Wren were often reported, and a Song Thrush was spotted once on Lewis Cres.

On Granta Park, two Little Grebe remain on the lake, alongside a few Moorhen and up to 40 Mallard. Eight Barnacle Goose were seen on the cricket field, as were a number of Pied Wagtail (also spotted in a Moorefield garden). A Grey Heron was reported on Bancroft Meadow, as well as flying over Lewis Cres, and interestingly, two Egyptian Goose were seen on Grange Farm. A few Black-headed Gull were spotted on GP, and small groups of gull, including Lesser Black-backed Gull were seen in local fields.

Up to three Buzzard were spotted at a number of sites, as were Red Kite with six being seen over the LSA on 16th. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were each reported twice, and Tawny Owl continue to be heard occasionally.

Around a dozen Linnet were seen on GP, as well as on the LSA, and Meadow Pipit were also spotted on the LSA and along the ORC, where a group of Red-legged Partridge were also seen. Collared Dove were reported just twice, and Stock Dove just three times, whereas Feral Pigeon seem to be on the increase.

 

Butterflies and other Insects

Unsurprisingly, just 20 reports this month, these being mostly butterfly sightings.

Five butterfly species were spotted in October. The majority of sightings were of Red Admiral, which migrate south, back over the channel at this time of year, although some may over-winter here. Several Large White were seen, as well as an occasional Brimstone, and single reports of both Comma and Speckled Wood, the latter likely to be from an unusual third brood of the year.

Total butterfly reports received in October were: Red Admiral (7), Large White (3), Brimstone (2), Comma (1), Speckled Wood (1), and unidentified ‘small white’ (2).

There were just two reports of a Hawker dragonfly (6th and 16th), thought to be Southern Hawker, although Migrant Hawker tend to be the predominant odonata species late in the year.

Two reports of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in Lewis Cres on 7th and 18th.

 

Mammals

Fallow Deer – six females/young and one well-antlered stag were seen along the ORC on 24th, and a stag (likely the same one) was seen in a field off Chalky Road on 26th.

Hare – one seen in Granta Park on 19th.

Hedgehog – evidence in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden throughout October.

Muntjac – one in a Cambridge Rd garden on 25th.

Field Vole – one spotted in a garden compost heap on Lewis Cres on 11th.

 

Flora and Fungi

A few fungi were spotted on GP, and whilst identifying the species can be difficult, they were thought to be Shaggy Inkcap, Fairy Inkcap, an Agaricus species, a Mycena species, and a Trametes species of bracket fungus (see blog).  A good-sized Giant Puffball was also seen in Sluice Wood (see blog).

 

Weather

The total rainfall was 54.5 mm, which is slightly below average. The highest temperature was 23.8 degrees C on the 16th and the lowest was minus 1.3 degrees C on the 11th. Temperatures over the whole month were generally mild, and winds were mainly from a southerly direction, so feeling very pleasant. As a result, there seem to be quite a few wild flowers still in bloom, and the trees are starting to show their autumnal colours (see blog). The village was also given a lovely display of the Northern Lights on 10th (see blog).


Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for October 2024.

Tricia Cullimore, David & Gaynor Farrant, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Joan Nevin, Barbara Phippen, Gill and Richard Smith, Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge.

Giant Puffball fungus

23rd October 2024 - David F spotted this Giant Puffball fungus in Sluice Wood recently. These large fruiting bodies start out white, slowly maturing to brown, before 'puffing out' their spores to be dispersed by the wind.


A few Fungi

19th October 2024 - Andy M spotted a few fungi whilst walking around Granta Park. Whilst it can be hard to definitively identify fungus species, these are thought to be Shaggy Inkcap, an Agaricus species, Fairy Inkcap, a Trametes species bracket fungus, and a species of BonnetMycena.

Shaggy Inkcap

Shaggy Inkcap - slightly more 'mature' ones

An Agaricus species

Fairy Inkcap

Fairy Inkcap

A Trametes species bracket fungus

A Mycena 'Bonnet' species

Autumn Colours

19th October 2024 - the combination of a few chillier nights and a bright sunny day has transformed the trees into a riot of autumnal colour.





[photos Andy M]

Common Frog

15th October 2024 - in the rather damp weather one evening, Andy M spotted a Common Frog hopping around outside his back door.



Northern Lights visible in Abington

10th October 2024 - those around in the evening, and able to see the dark sky to the north would have been able to see a rather lovely display of the Northern Lights over the village. A dramatic red splash was visible to the east, with lovely yellows and greens to the north, with a hint of the the characteristic 'curtains' near the horizon. All rather ethereal.





[photos Andy M]

The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

  • To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
  • To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
  • To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
  • To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)