April Sightings Highlights

A summary of sightings reported from around the Abingtons during April 2026 can be found by clicking on the link below:

APRIL 2026 SUMMARY

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Red-legged Partridge in gardens

30th April 2026 - there have been a number of reports of Red-legged Partridge in gardens across the parishes this month and Derek T managed to photograph of the ones visiting his front garden.

Visit to RSPB Fowlmere

29th April 2026.

Goldcrest

Goldfinch

Swift

Large Red Damselfly

Speckled Wood

Scarlet Tiger moth caterpillar

Water Vole

Brown Trout

Homo sapiens - the visiting group at the entrance hut

Thanks to John T and David F for photos.

Along the riverbank!

27th April 2026 - along the riverbank, behind the cricket field netting, could be found a lovely swath of yellow Greater Celandine flowers, interspersed with a few clumps of white Meadow Saxifrage and Garlic Mustard, and flitting between them all, a Common Carder Bee.  Andy M.

Greater Celandine along the riverbank

Greater Celandine

Greater Celandine

Meadow Saxifrage

Common Carder Bee on Garlic Mustard

Common Carder Bee between Greater Celandine

Sluice Wood flowers

26th April 2026 - David F spotted these Cowslip and White Campion in flower in Sluice Wood.

Riverfly Sampling - first of the season

20th April 2026 - the first Riverfly river sampling by the Abington Rivercare group. Results shown below. The highlight was catching two lovely Minnow, a female and a brightly coloured male, and a couple of Bullhead.

Otherwise, there were good numbers of rather small Olive, Mayfly and Angler's Curse larvae, and there seemed to be more green filamentous weed than usual, which made the sampling and subsequent identification 'interesting' to say the least!

Olive larva

Angler's Curse larva

Caseless Caddis

Minnow, female

Minnow, male

Bullhead

Spring butterflies

23rd April 2026 - the sunny weather has brought out the butterflies, and John T had a very pleasant time photographing a few along the path between the High St and Pampisford Road - including these Green-veined White, Holly Blue and Orange-tip, all on Green Alkanet flowers

male Green-veined White (female has stronger black markings on upper forewing)

male Holly Blue (female has more black on the edges of the upper forewing)

male Orange-tip -(female lacks the orange tips)

Ruddy Shelduck

23rd April 2026 - Adam P, who works on Granta Park, was both surprised and excited to spot a pair of Ruddy Shelduck on the cricket field. There have been a few sporadic reports of this species over the past few years, with these 'exotic' individuals likely part of the naturalised population of birds whose ancestors escaped from local UK bird collections.

Long-tailed Tit nest-building

23rd April 2026 - Andy M has a lovely pair of Long-tailed Tit getting on the housing ladder in his garden this spring, building a nest in the tree outside our kitchen window. This pair have been busy over the last couple of weeks to-ing and fro-ing with nest material, with both birds doing the job together. They make a fully domed nest from moss and lichen, held together with spider's webs and lined with feathers, with just a small entrance hole. So cute!

Spring walk in Lagden's Grove

19th April 2026 - Spring was definitely 'springing' in Lagden's Grove this month, with the Cow Parsley starting to shoot, and Ground Ivy and Garlic Mustard in flower. Andy M.

Ground Ivy

Garlic Mustard

Mallard in the river

19Apr2026 - this rather lovely male Mallard was chilling out in the river recently. Andy M.

'Tis the season - Chiffchaff

19th April 2026 - this Chiffchaff was clearly gathering nesting material when spotted in Sluice Woods.  Well, 'tis the season for nesting!  Andy M.

Mandarin Duck

19th April 2026 - this rather splendidly dressed male Mandarin Duck was strutting his stuff around the Granta Park lake. Although, his charms may have already proved successful, since when Andy M carefully and quickly checked the nestbox, a female was already in residence!

An early Peacock

12th April 2026 - Andy M spotted this early Peacock butterfly sunning itself on the Blackthorn blossom along the Roman Road.

Young Moorhen along the river

18th April 2026 - walking alongside the river Granta by the cricket field, Andy M spotted a Moorhen sitting on some reeds on the opposite bank. The bird almost immediately got up and hid in the adjacent undergrowth, followed by 3 or 4 newly-hatched chicks - of which he managed to get a quick photo.

Unusual garden visitor

19th April 2026 - David F was a little surprised to see a pair of Mallard visiting their garden pond, staying for an hour or so!

Green Alkanet

19th April 2026 - the Green Alkanet was noted to be in flower in Sluice Wood - David F.

Unusual nest site!

16th April 2026 - this unusual nesting site was found in Suzan S's paddock on North Road - someone tending their horse there heard cheeping when walking through the gate!! 

To watch video, press the central arrow icon twice

Early Mining Bee colony

15th April 2026 - a busy colony of Early Mining Bees was spotted in Len M's garden.

To watch video, click on central arrow icon twice.

Flowers out in Sluice Wood

12th April 2026 - David F noted both Garlic Mustard and Ground Ivy in flower in Sluice Wood.

Ground Ivy

Garlic Mustard - much loved by Orange-tip butterflies