Unusual garden visit from a Linnet pair

10th April 2025 - a pair of Linnet dropped into Andy M's front garden, to feed on some grass seeds growing along the edge of the driveway. It seems possible this was a breeding pair, since although the plumage of the male was not particularly brightly coloured, as would normally be the case in Spring, the female collected a feather before they both flew off, maybe to line a nest? 

Whilst Linnet can fairly often be seen in farmland around the edges of the village, it was quite unusual to see a pair in the garden.

Linnet pair, female on the left

Male Linnet - grey head and chestnut-brown back, but the red patches normally present

on the forehead and breast of breeding males seemed quite muted in this individual.

Female Linnet - generally duller coloured than the male and lacking any red,

with a paler more streaked appearance on the back and breast.

Female collecting a feather - maybe to line a nest?

Butterflies and Beeflies

6th April 2025 - in the recent sunny spell, the number of insects around has noticeably increased, and Andy M was pleased to note both an Orange Tip butterfly and several Dark-edged Beefly in his garden recently - some of which visited the lovely Cowslip flowers that have popped up through the lawn.

Orange Tip

Dark-edged Beefly

Cowslip

March 2025 - Summary of Sightings from around the Abingtons

Amphibians and Reptiles

At last, some Frogspawn and adult Common Frog have been seen - the Frogspawn was reported on 9th, and again in larger amounts on the 16th, from a pond in Lewis Cres. The same pond also contained around 25 adult frogs! Common Frog were also reported from a pond in Pampisford Rd, and Common Newt were seen early in the month from both a pond in Bourn Bridge Rd and in Pampisford Rd. Please keep a watch out as I am sure there is more to be seen!

Birds

A good total of 57 species were reported this month in 453 records. A male Brambling (see blog) briefly visited a Lewis Cres garden on 16th, and 20-50 Redwing were seen around the LA High St and Hall Farm late in the month. Both Chiffchaff and Blackcap were also noticeable later in the month, with Chiffchaff first heard on 16th and Blackcap shortly afterwards on 21st. Both Nuthatch and Treecreeper were reported from a LA High St garden, and a pair of Ruddy Shelduck were seen again on GP, but also on Grange Farm.

Many other species have been heard singing, including Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Wren in gardens, as well as both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush. Blue Tit were seen investigating nest boxes, and Rook on GP were busy raucously nest building.

A pair of Bullfinch were seen twice along the ORC, and Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch were often seen in gardens (see blog), as were Long-tailed Tit now mostly in pairs, and an occasional Coal Tit and Goldcrest. A Jay or two were regular visitors to a Cambridge Rd garden, and both House Sparrow and Starling were reported at several locations.

Small flocks of Meadow Pipit and a Reed Bunting were seen feeding in rough grass on the GP ‘mound’, as well as on the LSA where Linnet, Skylark and Yellowhammer were heard singing, and where a Pied Wagtail was also seen. Both Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker were spotted at several locations, as were a Pheasant and more unusually several Red-legged Partridge. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was also seen along the ORC.

Around GP, seven Barnacle Goose were resting on the cricket field, with a couple of Greylag and Canada Goose seen on the lake, as well as around eight of each on Hood’s Meadow (see blog). Mallard and a Moorhen were seen on the lake, with a Little Grebe heard calling from the reedbed. A Grey Heron and eight Mandarin Duck were seen along the river.

Of the raptors the Buzzard was most commonly seen, with 3-4 often soaring above the villages. A couple of Red Kite were also regularly reported, as was the hooting of 1 or 2 Tawny Owl. A Kestrel was seen occasionally along Pampisford Rd and a Sparrowhawk was spotted hunting along the ORC.

A pair of Collared Dove were seen occasionally, but Stock Dove and Feral Pigeon were both more numerous and more commonly reported in gardens. Woodpigeon, Jackdaw and Magpie were also common, and a pair of Carrion Crow have started nesting on Lewis Cres.

Butterflies and other Insects

There were 35 sightings of butterflies in March, mostly of Brimstone (21 reports) seen throughout the month but mostly (15 of 21) in the milder first half of the month. Comma (see blog) and Peacock were each reported 5 times, again mostly in the first week of the month. Small White was reported twice (5th and 30th) and Small Tortoiseshell once (4th).

Buff-tailed Bumblebee were recorded 5 times, again from early in March, and Honeybee were seen in good numbers enjoying the heather flowers in a garden in Lewis Cres on 3rd March. A Hairy-footed Flower Bee was also seen in Lewis Cres on 9th March.

Flora and Fungi

Cowslip were reported starting to bloom (see blog)

Mammals

Fallow Deer – twelve were spotted near the footpath towards Grange Farm on 3rd.

Fox – one seen in Bourn Bridge Rd garden on 31st

Hare – one reported from GP cricket pitch on 16th.

Hedgehog – two were captured on a trail camera on 10th, and three were seen regularly throughout the rest of the month in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden. One found dead on Lewis Cres on 16th.

Muntjac – two were seen in Lagden’s Grove on 16th, one was seen in a Bourn Bridge Rd garden on 25th, and one was heard in a Cambridge Rd garden on 25th.

Weather

A record dry month with only 7mm of rain, with the average normally being around 40mm! The highest temperature was 23.4C on the 20th and the lowest minus 6.7C on the 16th. There were quite a few frosty nights early in the month, but the daytime temperatures were above average on the whole. Winds were mostly south to southwest, but with a spell of northerly winds.

Many thanks to all those who contributed their sightings this month. Peter Brunning, Tricia Cullimore, Roger Dufresne, David & Gaynor Farrant, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Mary Miles, Joan Nevin, Freda Orgee, Marion Rusted, Barbara Phippen, Gill Smith, John & Maggie Turner, Derek Turnidge

Abbreviations: GA - Great Abington, LA – Little Abington, LSA – Land Settlement Association, GP – Granta Park, ORC – Old Railway Cutting, AbPkFm – Abington Park Farm.

Garden birds

30th March 2025 - John T recently spent a little time photographing some of the birds around the blossoming Cherry tree in his garden, and sent these lovely pictures of Blue Tit and Greenfinch.

Early Cowslip

19th March 2025 - in the wild meadow part of Len M's garden, a solitary Cowslip has come into flower.

Birds around Granta Park

16th March 2025 - on a walk around Granta Park, Andy M spotted a number of species on the lake. The male Mallard were in fine plumage, showing off their green heads and black tail curls! Both Canada Goose and Greylag were also on the lake, with a few Barnacle Goose resting on the cricket field nearby. Interestingly, a pair of Ruddy Shelduck also put in an appearance. This introduced but now naturalised species have been seen locally a few times recently, and were also seen on Grange Farm later in the month.

Mallard - male

Canada Goose

Greylag

Barnacle Goose

Ruddy Shelduck male

Ruddy Shelduck female

Ruddy Shelduck pair

Ruddy Shelduck pair at Grange Farm [photo Tricia C]

Brambling spotted

16th March 2025 - a rather splendid male Brambling put in a brief appearance at the feeders in Andy M's garden - and luckily he had his camera to hand! These finches visit the UK during the winter, but around this time of year are heading north again to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia.

First butterflies starting to appear

6th March 2025 - the butterflies are starting to appear, with the first reports this year being of a Brimstone and a Small Tortoiseshell seen along Church Lane on 28th February. Shortly afterwards, during the first week of March, a few more Brimstone were seen, as were an occasional Comma, Small White and Peacock. 

Comma - one of the first species to be seen during March this year.

[photo Andy M]