July 2026 - Summary of Sightings around the Abingtons

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

JULY 2026 SUMMARY

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Hitching a ride

30th July 2026 - this video was sent to Suzan S, by her grandson who was working to combine the fields locally - showing a Skylark apparently happy to hitch a ride.

note: to play video, click on central arrow twice in turn

Red Bartsia

26th July 2026 - along the PRV on Bourn Bridge Rd, David F noted this Red Bartsia in flower.

Elephant Moth caterpillar

26th July 2026 - David F spotted this Elephant Moth caterpillar in his garden.

Visit to Fleam Dyke

Chalkhill Blue (female)

Chalkhill Blue (male)

Chalkhill Blue (male)

Chalkhill Blue (male)

Chalkhill Blue (male)

Painted Lady 

[photos John T and Maggie T]

Swallow in the nest

23rd July 2026 - along North road on the LSA, Suzan S has spied a Swallow nest, full with four hungry young, being diligently tended by the two adults. At this stage of the summer, this is likely to be a second brood.

A couple of damsels

19th July 2026 - around the Granta Park lake, Andy M found a few damselflies - including newly-hatched (or 'teneral') Common Blue Damselfly. Shortly after emergence, the colours of teneral damselflies are pale and muted, slowly getting stronger as they dry out. These teneral forms can be hard to distinguish, but this one was starting to show the characteristic patterning of a Common Blue Damselfly.  

Along the river were several Banded Demoiselle, which strongly prefer to be around running water.

teneral female Common Blue Damselfly

male Banded Demoiselle

Granta Park butterflies

19th July 2026 - the flower meadows on Granta Park have long since dried up in this hot and dry weather, with just a few Scabious, Knapweed and Achillea flowers providing colour, and nectar! Despite this, Andy M spotted a good few butterfly species, there seemingly being good numbers of Gatekeeper and Painted Lady around this year.

Meet the 'Browns':

Meadow Brown - with its forewing hidden, is well camoflagued

Meadow Brown - one white spot black 'eye'

Small Heath - smaller, one white spot, 

more patterned hind underwing with brown spots near edge

Gatekeeper - two white 'eye' spots, white centres to hindwing spots

Gatekeeper

Speckled Wood - blotchy wing pattern, usually found in shady areas

Speckled Wood

Painted Lady - also a 'brown'. Distinctive mostly black and pink-orange 

Painted Lady

Meet the 'Blues':

Common Blue

Small Copper

Small Copper

Birds around Granta Park

19th July 2026 - whilst the birds generally become quite quiet during July and August, Andy M spotted a few birds whilst walking around Granta Park, many of them juveniles, and quite a few of them were around the lake in this hot weather!

juvenile Robin

fledged juvenile Little Grebe, feeding for itself

'female-type' Mandarin Duck 

(i.e. female or young, which look the same)

Barnacle Goose and Greylag 

Female Mallard with single duckling

young Mallard duckling, feeding on algae at the rapidly drying-up edge of the pool

Grass Snake

19th July 2026 - a sizeable Grass Snake was spotted swimming across Granta Park lake, heading out of a reed bed where it would undoubtedly have been hunting for frogs, small fish and even young birds.  Totally harmless to humans, a Grass Snake can be identified from the pale yellow and black markings just behind its head.

Andy M

Low water levels on Granta Park

19th July 2026 - the prolonged dry spell has resulted in the water levels in both the river and the main lake becoming increasingly low exposing much of the gravel bottom, with the smaller ponds near Illumina having pretty much dried up completely - all undoubtedly resulting in much loss of wildlife.

main lake

main lake

River Granta in Sluice Wood

pond near Illumina building

Kingfisher nesting along the river

17th July 2026 - whilst walking through Sluice Wood, Julia M heard an unusual muffled bird call, apparently coming from along the river. Further investigation led her to discover that the sounds were coming from a hole in the bank, and were most likely from young Kingfisher in the nest burrow. 

Having alerted Andy M, he sat for a while waiting for the adult to return, which after some time one did, delivering food to the evidently hungry and very noisy young, before backing out of the burrow and immediately diving into the water to wash its feathers - all over in a flash.

This is the first confirmed record of nesting Kingfisher along the Abington stretch of the river for many years, and given the very low level of the water, its a wonder there were enough fish to feed the family. About a week after this, Julia passed the spot again, and heard nothing, so it is assumed (hoped) that the young fledged.

[photos Andy M]

Trumpington Meadows trip

15th July 2026 - a group met at Trumpington Meadows early in the cool of the morning to walk around the lovely Wildlife Trust reserve there. Through the woods Treecreeper was heard, and by Byron's Pool a family of Moorhen was seen busily feeding recently fledged young and rebuilding their nest. Grey Wagtail also feed on the lilypads there, and Mute Swan were nest building on the opposite bank.

By the time we reached the meadows it was warming up, and several butterfly and moth species were flying through the rather dried-up grass and flowers, including Brown Argus and Common Blue, as well as Six-spot Burnet and Meadow Brown. Near the lake young Swallow and Swift were feeding, some of the Swallow resting briefly on a bench, and in the water a few Tufted Duck and Coot were seen.

The meadows on the return leg of the walk were the most productive, with both Clouded Yellow and Purple Hairstreak seen, as well as Small Blue, Small Copper and Small Heath along the path. Several Wasp Spider and Brown Hawker were also spotted around the trees, with many Gatekeeper and Brown Argus feeding on the wild oregano near the car park.  

Moorhen

Moorhen family

Juvenile Moorhen

Juvenile Moorhen

Moorhen nest-building

Moorhen on nest

Grey Wagtail

Brown Argus

Brown Argus

Common Blue

Six-spot Burnet moth

Six-spot Burnet moth

meadow flowers

Cranesbill

Meadow Brown, on Scabious

Bullrushes and lake

Swallow, resting on bench

Tufted Duck

group by lake

group by lake

lake

Mayfly

group

Knapweed

Group in action in the meadows

Small White, on Scabious

Purple Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak

Small Blue

Small Blue

Wasp Spider

Wasp Spider, with characteristic web 'ribbon'

Small Heath

Small Copper

Small Copper

Hoverfly on Scabious

Knapweed, and dried meadows

Hoverfly spp

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper

[all photos Andy M & Polly M]