March 2019. Interesting Sightings around The Abingtons

MARCH 2019

Amphibians and Reptiles

Common Frog – large mass of frogspawn reported in a garden pond on Bourn Bridge Road (03 Mar)

Birds

Fieldfare – 10-20 reported on Granta Park (05,19 Mar), a flock of ~30 on fields near Hildersham Wood (20 Mar), and 12 were seen flying over Gt Abington on 23 Mar.

Redwing – 20+ in trees behind Cambridge Road (01 Mar), and 2-4 on Granta Park (14 Mar). Last reported along Chalky Road on 17 Mar.

Chiffchaff – first heard singing from bushes alongside GP lake (01 Mar), with many reports since from across the village, including at least 4 singing males along Old Railway Cutting (30 Mar).

Blackcap – first heard singing along Old Railway Cutting on 19 Mar.  Heard several times since in Sluice Wood, and a report of 3 singing males along the Old Railway Cutting (30 Mar).

Green Woodpecker – reported in a Bourn Bridge Road garden, and heard ‘yaffling’ in Sluice Wood throughout the month.  Great Spotted Woodpecker continue to visit several garden feeders.

Little Owl – seen on several occasions first thing and at dusk on Granta Park. A Tawny Owl was heard on Granta Park (01 Mar), and regularly heard (male and female) at night on LSA.

Red Kite – several sightings near Hildersham Wood, over Granta Park, and the Old Railway Cutting.

Sparrowhawk – one seen with prey, possibly a Collared Dove in a garden (20 Mar), another seen hunting on Bancroft Farm Meadow (27 Mar), and a third flying across the High Street.

Golden Plover – around 30 flying over Mortlock Gardens and the adjacent field (20 Mar).

Yellowhammer – small flocks seen in fields south of LSA.  Linnet – a flock of 30-40 seen very regularly on rough ground, or on the cricket pitch, in Granta Park.

Skylark – 3-4 reported in full song on the LSA (09 Mar), and over fields alongside Pampisford Road.

Bullfinch – reported feeding on tree buds along the Old Railway Cutting on two occasions.  Small flocks of Goldfinch continue to visit feeders, with 2-3 Greenfinch, and up to 15 Chaffinch.

Long-tailed Tit – reported ‘pecking their reflections’ in window glass.  Regular reports of Coal Tit singing on Granta Park, the LSA, and a Gt Abington garden.

Goldcrest – two seen and heard in conifers on LSA (17 Mar), and one in Granta Park (25 Mar).

Robin – one report of a pair displaying and feeding each other in a Gt Abington garden.

Grey Wagtail – a female seen on 2 occasions, feeding on floating debris in the river near the sluice.

Little Egret – at least six separate reports of a single bird along the river, throughout the month.

Goosander – a female was seen flying over Granta Park (21 Mar) – first record in The Abingtons.

Mandarin Duck – 5 flying noisily in large circles over the meadows alongside river by A1307.

Cormorant – reported on 4-5 occasions feeding in the lake.  Moorhen seen displaying on Granta Park lake (15 Mar), and Mallard are now mostly in pairs along the river, with very few left on Granta Park lake. A pair of Reed Bunting also seen in the reedbeds (28 Mar).

Rook and Jackdaw – colonies actively nest building in tall trees on Granta Park.  Jay – four reported squabbling in the trees along Cambridge Road, and two in Cook’s Meadow

Butterflies, Bees and other insects

Very few reports in the first three weeks of the month but many in the last 10 days when the weather was warmer.

Brimstone – 26 sightings in last two weeks, mainly in gardens, but only 2 sightings before 18 Mar.

Peacock – 10 sightings during the month

Small White – 8 sightings during the month

Comma – 7 sightings during the month

Large White, Small tortoiseshell – 2 sightings each

Orange Tip – first sighting this year on 30 Mar (this is earlier than usual)

Buff-tailed Bumblebee – fewer sightings (10) than usual for March

Red-tailed Bumblebee, White-tailed Bumblebee, Mining bees, Honey bees – few sightings only

Ladybirds – 7 Spot ladybirds seen a few times in large numbers, very few Harlequin Ladybirds.

Beeflies – 3 sightings of these tiny insects feeding on spring flowers in last week of month.

Lacewings - reported

Flowers

Early in March, fantastic displays of violets in many places in the village - more than seen before - dark and pale blue and white.

At the end of the month, signs of spring:

Bourn Bridge Road:

          White Dead Nettle just in flower; Pink Dead Nettle just in flower; Buttercup,one flower;

          Dandelion, a few flowers; Celandine in flower; many small Daisies; Thistles.

          Mallow leaves; Dock leaves; Ground Ivy;

          Comfrey? Cow Parsley? early yellow daisy- type flower.

Granta Park:

          Many Cowslips on field next to cricket ground; Small blue flowers, possibly Forget-me-Not; Dandelions; Dock; Celandine; Speedwell; Lords and Ladies in leaf but not in flower.

Cambridge Road: one Bluebell.

Mammals

Muntjac Deer – three reports this month, including two deer in Lagden’s Grove, and two in the Old Railway Cutting.

Hare – five sightings, with two three reports of 1-2 Hare seen around Granta Park, and up to four hare seen feeding in the fields alongside the ‘hairdresser’s path’.  Also two spotted south of the Old Railway Cutting (30 Mar), and along Bourn Bridge Road.

Fox – three reports, with 1-2 seen sunning themselves along the Old Railway Cutting on two occasions.  Single fox seen patrolling in Cook’s Meadow (25 Mar).

Badger – two reports of one seen in Abington Woods on 04 Mar.

Pygmy Shrew – one reported dead in a garden along Cambridge Road.

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

Anne Dunbar-Nobes, David Farrant, Jennifer Hirsh, Carole McCrae, Len Mead, Andy Merryweather, Gareth Rees, Sally Simmons, Gill Smith, Derek Turnidge, Sally Turnidge.

Please email your sightings, from 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

Flowers:                           Sally Turnidge                 sally@turnidges.com

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

News - first hirundine of the season seen

Tuesday, 2nd April

This year's first report of a hirundine (swallows and martins) in The Abingtons came on Tuesday morning.  A group of five Sand Martin was seen swooping low over Granta Park lake, travelling westwards.

Whilst dependent on the weather and location, Sand Martin are generally the first of the hirundines to arrive in the UK, starting in March and peaking by late-April. Swallow generally arrive during April, with House Martin arrivals being more spread out from mid-April to late-May, and Swift not arriving until May. Unsurprisingly, typical arrival dates in Scotland are 2-4 weeks later than in southern England.

So ,,,, keep your eyes peeled - and let Derek know when you see your first!

The BTO have this interesting and useful identification guide:
https://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-hirundines-and-swift

Arrival data from BTO website

An early morning walk along the Old Railway Cutting

Andy M took an early morning walk along the Old Railway Cutting at the weekend - and in the warming sun, Spring seemed in full flow.  The air was full of birdsong, from summer visitors such as Chiffchaff and Blackcap, and residents such as Wren, Robin and Dunnock alike, all defending their territories and attracting mates. Overhead several Skylark were singing high up, as a Red Kite drifted through.  The Blackthorn was resplendent, proving beyond temptation for several Bullfinches, and below a few Cowslips provided a dash of colour. The warmth of the sun even tempted a Fox out from its den. All most pleasant.

Chiffchaff, singing from high in the trees

 ... and Chiffchaff singing in the Blackthorn

A male Blackcap, similarly proclaiming loud and clear

 Male Blackcap

 A feisty Wren holding its own from prominent perches

 Wren

And a Dunnock, uncharacteristically out in the open for all to hear

 Dunnock

 A male Bullfinch feeding on Blackthorn buds - one of two pairs seen

 A Red Kite casually drifting through, on the lookout for breakfast

Red Kite

A few Cowslips, coming into flower, provided a splash of colour

 Clusters of Blackthorn flowers everywhere, in their full glory

 A fox, quietly soaking up the warming sun

A Hare out and about in the fields

Early morning dew highlights spider's webs in the grass

News - first Orange Tip butterfly of the year. Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard singing

Saturday, 30th March

The first sighting this year of an Orange Tip butterfly was reported by Derek T in his garden along Cambridge Road.

Male Orange-Tip (picture from Butterfly Conservation website)

Summer visiting warblers have also been arriving in greater numbers this week. An increasing number of Chiffchaff have been heard singing across the village over the last week or so, joined this weekend by several Blackcap, heard singing in Sluice Wood and along the Old Railway Cutting - David F, Andy M.

 Chiffchaff - Old Railway Cutting - Andy M

 Male Blackcap - Old Railway Cutting - Andy M

News - first Beefly of the year in glorious weekend weather

Sunday 24th March - Jennifer H

The glorious sunny weather this weekend brought out the first Beefly of the year, seen by Jennifer H feeding on evergreen Alkanet in her garden.

News - Goosander seen for first time in The Abingtons

Thursday 21st March - Andy M

A female Goosander was seen flying low over Granta Park, heading east towards Great Abington.  Excitingly, this species of duck has not been reported before in the Abington parishes.

Goosander belong to the 'sawbill' family of diving ducks. Breeding mainly in Scandinavia and northern Russia (and occasionally in Northern Britain), Goosander migrate south in winter, which they spend in northern Europe including the UK, most often on inland lakes or along the coast.

Andy was unable to take a photograph of the bird seen on Thursday, but below is a female Goosander from BirdGuides - Sawbill Photo ID guide
https://www.birdguides.com/articles/identification/sawbill-photo-id-guide/

The male and female Goosander appear very different. A large duck, some 60-70cm long, with a wing-span of around 80-90cm. The female has a long red bill, and a chestnut-brown head, sharply distinct from a long pale neck which is extended when in flight. Underparts of the long body are pale, with a darker back, and the long, narrow, pointed wings have a clearly visible block of white on the inner wing, contrasting with darker wingtips. The flight is fast and direct, on stiffly-held wings with a rapid, shallow wingbeat.

Along the Old Railway Cutting

Along the Old Railway Cutting, the Blackthorn flower buds are simply bursting to go - with just one or two flowers coming out.  At the end of the cutting, a lovely Sallow tree is covered in fluffy, yellow-tipped flowers, in much demand from a large number of Buff-tailed Bumblebees.  Also a rather pretty, but as yet unidentified, small bracket fungus growing on some deadwood along the path.  A lovely lunchtime walk - Andy M

 Blackthorn flowers - just bursting to go!

 Sallow flowers

A rather lovely-coloured small bracket fungus