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.
Highlights for February 2025
Amphibians
and Reptiles
No
sightings reported. In the past Frogspawn has been reported by mid-February,
but maybe the recent cold spell has caused them to pause this year!
Birds
A total of 52 species were
reported this month in 403 records.
A Lesser Redpoll
paid a brief visit to a Lewis Cres feeder on 17th, this being the only report this
year, and both male and female Blackcap have been regular visitors to
several gardens (see
blog). A Redwing was spotted on the LSA on 17th along with a flock
of ~40 Fieldfare, the latter also being seen in smaller numbers on GP. A
Ruddy Shelduck was seen along with a Greylag on 2nd on GP lake (see
blog), where both a Cormorant and a Grey Heron were also spotted.
A flock of six Golden
Plover was seen in fields around AbPkFm, as were around 30 Black-headed
Gull and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 15-20 Red-legged
Partridge. A mixed flock of ~30 Linnet and ~30 Yellowhammer were
seen feeding just south of Chalky Rd, the males being in lovely plumage now, and
where ~10 singing Skylark and a Meadow Pipit were also
spotted.
A Barn Owl has
been reported as resident at bottom of a field on the LSA, and Tawny Owl
continued to call regularly. The resonate song of the Mistle Thrush could
also be heard at several sites this month. After an absence of over a year, a Little
Egret has again been spotted – twice! – along the river either side of the
recreation ground.
A Buzzard was
seen looking for worms on the Perse sports fields, four Red Kite were spotted
patrolling over the southern parish boundary, and 1-2 Kestrel were
reported on GP, the ORC and the LSA. A Green Woodpecker was heard
yaffling on GP on two occasions, and 1 or 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker were
seen regularly at several locations.
A Goldcrest was
reported from Hall Farm, and both Jay and Song Thrush were regular
visitors in both Cambridge Rd and Lewis Cres gardens. Blue Tit, Great
Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Coal Tit were all regularly
reported, as were Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch.
Butterflies
and other Insects
Flora
and Fungi
Snowdrop and Aconite in flower near the sluice on GP (see blog).
Mammals
Fallow Deer – eight
including two stags were seen on LSA on 17th, followed by another 15, in two 2
herds of ten and five, also on LSA on 27th.
Hare – one seen in Lagden’s Grove and two more near the ‘Hairdresser’s path’ on 16th. Three were spotted in LSA in a field off Chalky Rd, and six in the field near the ORC.
Muntjac – one in
a Cambridge Rd garden on 9th. Two were seen in Lagden’s Grove, and one by the
Hairdresser’s path on 16th, and one was seen on LSA on 27th.
Roe Deer – one
was seen on LSA on 27th.
Weather
Rainfall of 37.5 mm for the month, which is about average. The warmest day was 17.2 C on the 21st with a low of minus 5.2 C on the 17th. The first two weeks of the month winds were predominantly in an east to southeasterly direction swinging more southerly later, hence giving a higher temperature.
Many thanks to all those who contributed their sightings this month. David & Gaynor Farrant, Mary Godsmark, Andy & Polly Merryweather, Brian & Pamela Parris, Gill & Richard Smith, Suzan Stewart, 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.
27th February 2025 - over the last week, during the colder weather, Andy M noticed a pair of Blackcap visiting the feeders - a male with his black cap, and a female with her rufous brown cap. They have continued to visit regularly since, and the male was even spotted singing on occasion - seems Spring is already in the air!
27th February 2025 - Andy M was watching the birds at his feeders, when he noticed this Great Tit, which at first inspection seemed much like any other Great Tit, with the exception of its long and somewhat deformed bill - with which it seemed to be coping perfectly well!
16th February 2025 - a lovely show of Aconites and Snowdrops in Sluice Wood on GP this year.
Over the winter, an extensive 'wildlife habitat improvement project' has been underway in Lagden's Grove - the undergrowth clearance looks rather brutal at the moment, but the hope is that the wild flowers in particular will benefit from the extra light. Not sure the insects or birds are going to be quite so happy at the loss of feeding and nesting habitat though - we will see.
Andy M
25th February 2025 - the Abington NatureWatch 2025 Programme of Events is shown below.
ANW members will receive email reminders with further details ahead of each trip.
On occasion it becomes necessary to change the programme. The most up-to-date information can be found at the top right of the Abington NatureWatch blog home page, under the Resources heading.
ANW Project Team
11 February 2025 - Following the RSPB BGBW event conducted over the last weekend in January, those that took part locally sent Derek T their results, and the collated results are shown below.
DLT 09Feb2025
