Male Sparrowhawk at the feeders

First thing this morning, in the drizzle and the murk, Andy M noticed that the garden feeders were unusually quiet.  Looking across the road, the reason became apparent - a male Sparrowhawk, in lovely richly-coloured plumage, was playing the watchful waiting game in a tree near the feeders, hoping the small birds would forget about him.

The bluish-grey back, and lovely rufous colouration to the breast feathers marked this out as an adult male bird; juveniles and (larger) females being more grey-brown and lacking the rufous tint.  Interestingly, the eye colour of males turns from yellow to orange as the bird gets older.  Note the characteristic long tail, as well as a few white spots on the back - apparently something which is becoming increasingly common in many birds, including in some birds of prey.

October 2019. Interesting sightings around The Abingtons

October 2019

Amphibians and Reptiles

No sightings reported this month. 

Birds

Hobby – further report of two raptors, believed to be Hobbies, being mobbed by crows near Sluice Wood (4^th).

Swallow – three flying over Granta Park lake on 3^rd – last report.

Winter thrush – small flock of Redwing (10-15) first seen on Granta Park on 9^th and regularly since, and two Fieldfare seen in Gt Abington (on 31^st). A Song Thrush also reported in Cambridge Road garden (24^th).

Small flocks of birds return to garden feeders, particularly Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit and occasionally Coal Tit at several locations. Greenfinch notable by its relative absence – only one report of a single bird.

Linnet – occasional small flock on waste ground in Granta Park.

Skylark – 2-3 singing high above stubble fields near Abington Park Farm, and one over Granta Park.

Goldcrest and Treecreeper – both as part of mixed flock in Lagden’s Grove, on several occasions.

Reed Bunting – two in reedbeds around Granta Park lake.

Cormorant – single bird fishing in Granta Park Lake throughout the month, alongside up to c80 Mallard, several Moorhen and a single female Mandarin Duck (9^th).

Sparrowhawk – one (likely juvenile) chasing a Woodpigeon in Gt Abington garden.

Buzzard – three reports of a single bird over Cambridge Road, and Sluice Wood.

Kestrel – three heard calling to each other, over Granta Park (9^th).

Red Kite – one over Gt Abington and regularly over South Road, and two over Sluice Wood (13^th).

Tawny Owl – several reports of ‘hooting’ heard around the village. A Barn Owl also heard ‘screeching’ in Gt Abington (17^th).

Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker – in several gardens, and on Granta Park.

Jay – often seen collecting acorns and flying between woodland areas on Granta Park.

Nuthatch – a single bird in a garden on High Street Lt Abington.

Grey Wagtail – one on the river in Sluice Wood, and another in a garden with a pond in Lt Abington.

Pied Wagtail - up to 25 feeding on Granta Park cricket field, and on Perse sports fields.

Grey Heron – two sightings of one juvenile bird near the river.

Little Egret – four reports of (presumably the same) single bird on the river near recreation ground.

Barnacle Goose – flock of seven regularly on Granta Park cricket green, and Perse sports fields.

Mute Swan – single juvenile on a new lake in a garden on South Road.

Butterflies, Bees and other insects

A very quiet month for butterfly reports, again due to the very variable weather and frosty nights in the last week.  Only 18 reports during the month.

Butterflies – Brimstone and Comma, 3 of each; Red Admiral, 2; Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White, 1 of each.

          The last Brimstone on 16^th in the sunshine was a beautiful pristine male.

Bumblebees – two Buff-tailed bumblebees.

Dragonflies – one Hawker, one Emperor and one Darter.

Other reports: one Hummingbird Hawkmoth, several reports of Hornet.

Mammals

Bat – reported over gardens on Cambridge Road and Bourn Bridge Road.

Hare – one on the Roman Road.

Muntjac – four reports; in gardens on the High Street, Bourn Bridge Road, and in Sluice Wood.

Mole – fresh molehills at various locations around the village, especially on the Recreation Ground and Perse sports fields.

Rivercare

The river continued to have low flow for most of the month. Further small patches of both Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed were reported and have been removed.  Further vigilance and reporting of these invasive plants is encouraged (contact Peter B). Further information can be found on the UK waterways website.

Weather

Rainfall for October was 66.5 mm. Average daytime temperature was 15ºC, with a high of 20.9ºC on the 1^st, and the low being minus 2.3ºC on the 28^th. Strong gusty winds in the first and last weeks of the month.

Many thanks to all those who contributed reports of their sightings for October 2019:

Darren Bast, Audrey Bugg, Anne Dunbar-Nobes, David Farrant, Gaynor Farrant, Jennifer Hirsh, Len Mead, Andy Merryweather, Polly Merryweather, Joan Nevin, Pamela Parris, Gareth Rees, Marion Rusted, Gill Smith, Derek Turnidge.

Please email your sightings, within the Abington parishes, to the relevant ANW Recorder:

Amphibians and reptiles: Anne Dunbar Nobes        ac.dunbar.nobes@gmail.com

Birds:                               Derek Turnidge                derek@turnidges.com

Butterflies, Bees etc:       Jennifer Hirsh                   jennifer@hirsh.com

Mammals:                       Gill Smith                          richardandgill.smith@live.co.uk

Rivercare:                       Peter Brunning                 peter.brunning@cantab.net
Flora:   Currently vacant - if interested, please contact David Farrant for more details.

News. First Fieldfare of the season seen

31st October 2019

A pair of Fieldfare were seen and heard by Andy M this morning flying over his garden.

Derek noted that these were the first reports of Fieldfare this season in the Abingtons, and encourages everyone to email him with their winter visitor reports.

Autumn notes on Granta Park

The low sunlight and wonderful autumn colours painted a number of lovely scenes around Granta Park today - Andy M.

Fairy-rings and fungi!

Andy M spotted quite a number of rather lovely toadstool fairy-rings (Marasmius species)

on the Granta Park cricket pitch today, as well as  number of other ones around the park. 

A Puffball - just starting to come up ...

... and another that is over

More toadstools - Parasols and Inkcaps!

The change in the weather seems to have bought out the mushrooms and toadstools around the village. Jennifer H reported a large number of Parasol Mushrooms in Abington Woods, and Anne D-N found a fine 'colony' of Shaggy Inkcap toadstools (Coprinus comatus) around the edge of a copse near Hildersham Wood.

Parasol Mushrooms - photos Jennifer H

Shaggy Inkcap toadstools - photos Anne D-N

Parasol Mushroom and other fungi

The recent wet weather seems to have really spurred the fungi on - they seemed to be popping up everywhere on Andy M's walks around Granta Park. 

Most impressive was a long line of large Parasol Mushrooms (Macrolepiota procera), each one around 15-20cm across. Apparently edible (although not a decision I would make), this species is found solitary or in groups in neglected pastureland, or (as here) in well-drained soils in woodland.

Parasol Mushroom

 Parasol Mushroom

 Parasol Mushroom

Parasol Mushroom - just emerging and fully open

Some Shaggy Inkcap (Coprinus comatus), were also coming up under the trees.

Shaggy Inkcap - just coming up

 Shaggy Inkcap - just coming up - underside

Mature Shaggy Inkcap

as well as several other, as yet unidentified, species of toadstools:

 'fairy ring' toadstools