Summary of Sightings from the Abingtons - June 2026

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

JUNE 2026 SUMMARY

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Close-up fun

29th June 2026 - having seen a few lovely close-up 'macro' photos on social media, Andy M decided to have a go. It's not that easy!  First efforts were on a Bumblebee collecting nectar from a flower, but these guys move fast - interesting to see how much pollen sticks to the body hairs though. Second attempt was on a Helenium flower - at least it kept still, but not that stunning. Third effort was looking into the garden pond - and finding lots of tiny Water Flea (Daphina spp) and a few Mosquito larvae hanging upside down and breathing through their 'bums'!  I'll keep trying!

Pollen-covered Bumblebee

Helenium flower

Water Flea

Mosquito larvae

Buzzard keeping a lookout!

29th June 2026 - Derek T spotted with Buzzard perching on the top of his greenhouse, no doubt keeping a look out for anything interesting moving around in the veg patch or field beyond!

Badger, caught on a security-cam

26th June 2026 - Alan C sent this clip from a neighbour's security camera, clearly showing a Badger sneaking around the edge of the garden at about 11:30.

Note - click central arrow icon two times to watch video

Birds, on and above Granta Park water

21st June 2026 - there have been quite a few Mandarin Duck around the lake and river this year, and Andy M spotted these two 'female-type' individuals - meaning they could be adult females or older young from this year, as their plumage is very similar. There was also a juvenile Moorhen, looking a bit 'gawky teenager' when compared to the sleek plumage of the adults. In the small balancing pools, a single Ruddy Shelduck female was seen, possibly from the pair seen there  earlier in the year. Above them all, floated an ever-impressive Red Kite.

Mandarin Duck, female-type

Mandarin Duck, female-type

Moorhen, juvenile

Ruddy Shelduck, female

Ruddy Shelduck, female

Red Kite

Butterflies on Granta Park

21st June 2026 - there have been good numbers of Marbled White around this year, and on Granta Park was no exception. Nicely-coloured Green-veined White were also around in the woods, drinking from areas of damp moss, whilst on the meadow, both Meadow Brown and Small Skipper were seen - the latter having orange tips to the undersides to the antennae, whereas the very similar Essex Skipper has dark tips.

Marbled White

Marbled White

Marbled White

Green-veined White

Green-veined White

Meadow Brown

Small Skipper

Small Skipper - showing orange underside of antennae tips

Small Skipper

Grey Wagtail by the sluice

21st June 2026 - by the sluice, the bed of the river has dried up to be just mud at the moment, and this was the happy hunting ground for a lovely Grey Wagtail. Andy M.

Dragons and Damsels - static ones!

21st June 2026 - as well as the restless Emperor Dragonfly (see previous post), Andy M also saw several other species of dragonfly and damselfly. Around the edges of the lakes, perched on the stone surrounds were several Black-tailed Skimmer (similar in colour to the Broad-bodied Chaser, but having a longer, more pointed abdomen and lacking the dark wing-bases).

In the reeds around the lake, there were Four-spotted Chaser, having two wing spots per wing, and Common Blue Damselfly, and Blue-tailed Damselfly (the latter having a basically dark abdomen with a blue tip, and on the lily pads were Red-eyed Damselfly (which unsurprisingly have red eyes!). 

Finally, over the other side of the site, along the river in which many reeds are growing at the moment, there were Banded Demoiselle - the males being metallic blue with a dark blue 'thumb-print' on the wing, and the females being metallic green. A few mating pairs were seen joining up in tandem there too.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Black-tailed Skimmer

Four-spotted Chaser

Four-spotted Chaser

Common Blue Damselfly, male

Blue-tailed Damselfly, male

Red-eyed Damselfly

Banded Demoiselle, male

Banded Demoiselle, male

Banded Demoiselle, female

Banded Demoiselle, mating pair

Banded Demoiselle, mating pair

Emperor Dragonfly - in flight

21st June 2026 - a couple of the largest UK dragonfly, the Emperor Dragonfly, were patrolling back and forth along the side of Granta Park lake, looking for food (which they catch and eat on the wing) and warding off any intruders. They just don't stop, and they're fast! 

Frustrating if you're trying to get a nice photo of them. So just for fun, Andy M tried his luck at getting a reasonable photo of them in flight! After throwing away many, many attempts, you can be the judge as to whether or not he succeeded!

Kingfisher

21st June 2026 - Andy M was lucky enough to spot this male Kingfisher, perched above the side of the lake patiently waiting for its breakfast to pass underneath!

Wildflower meadows on Granta Park

21st June 2026 - despite the lack of rain of late, the wildflower meadows on Granta Park have been looking particularly lovely with a wide variety of species in flower.  Nearer the lake, a few Pyramidal Orchid were on flower too. As Andy M wandered around he took a few photos.

Pyramidal Orchid