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BREAKING NEWS: July, August, September 2015
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A couple of images – both from Aldreth – the lunar eclipse from Aldreth and dew on a spider’s web in morning light. Simon.  |
| 27 September: My House Martins eventually fledged at 4.30 pm. On 27th September. No hanging about and straight off never to be seen again this year anyway. They didn't start till late July but have brought off two broods after all So well done. PM |
| 27 September: Here are some sightings from Aldreth Causeway on 26th September: Kestrel 2, Grey Partridge several heard, Kingfisher 1, Treecreeper 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Chiffchaff 2+, Goldcrest 3, Redpoll several, Siskin 1. Also, a Siskin over the village y’day and 2 more seen today. It seems to be a good autumn for Siskins and Redpolls. There may be something happening with Coal Tits too from what others in Cambs are saying, but we haven’t seen one locally for a couple of years. Simon. |
| 23 September: This afternoon, my attention was drawn skywards by a chorus of Jackdaw alarm calls. I looked up to see four Common Buzzards circling on a thermal, a sight Haddenham wouldn't have dreamed of twenty years ago. 2: I have a homemade but perfectly respectable Kestrel box looking for a home. It's free. If you are interested, please get in touch. Jake |
23 September: I found this dead Pygmy Shrew on our patio on Sunday, 20th September; presumably killed by a local cat. Simon. |
21 September: Several days recently in garden September 2015. Common Carder Bee. Bombus piscaruom. Interesting how they will only chose blue or purple flowers. PM  |
| 21 September: We saw about 25 +/- Ruff/Reeves but they were so mobile its difficult to be certain. Some Linnets now on Dambank but mobile so couldn't estimate. Didn't bother to count Lapwings. Merlin. PM&ID |
| 19 September: This morning along Dam Bank Drove there were 11 Ruff feeding in a stubble field with several hundred Lapwing. Simon. |
| 16 September: 2015 breeding season report I think it would be safe now to say Haddenham/Aldreth 3 pairs Common Buzzards bred ,1 pair Hobbies bred only 1 young, 2 pairs Kingfishers. (1 at least twice). 4 pairs Sparrowhawks (estimate), 5 pairs Kestrels (one with 3 young). 1 pair Marsh Harriers attempted. Also 3 pairs Little Grebe minimum. 2 pairs Tufted Duck. 1 pair Gadwall. At least 1 pair Turtle Doves but may be 3 possible. Hard to find Song Thrush or Mistle Thrush this year. Swallows well down. House Martins 9 probable may be more as some started late. Swifts not actual count but probably 8+. Nothing else actually counted. PaulM |
| 15 September: On 12 September, during the annual Pond Day on Guppys Pond when people are rowed around the pond by others more competent and willing, the usual wildlife was on display including up to 2 Kingfishers which always delight the audience. per Wendy Lanman |
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14 September: The Vapourer Orgyia antiqua larvae. Picture from Wendy Lanman's garden by Guppys Pond (13th September 2015). An unusual species in many ways, the males fly during the day and whizz about all over the place. Females are wingless, but the adults are out from July to September so this larvae is late as they over winter as eggs. PM. |
| 12 September: Another or the same Hummingbird Hawk-moth in our garden this morning (see 6 September entry below). Simon. |
11 September: A Hornet Mimic Hoverfly in the garden yesterday, almost 2cm long, and our largest Hoverfly. The adults are migratory and the larvae live inside wasp's nests. Sheila and Ian D. |
| 10 September: This morning at c08:15 there was a very noisy juv Hobby following an adult around along Dam Bank Drove. SS |
| 10 September: Berryfen Corner. 2 Spotted Flycatchers. Claytons Bridge 2 juvenile Marsh Harriers. I Common Buzzard. Long Drove Up to 250 Lapwings and a few Golden plovers. difficult to count because stubble is high. 5 Kestrels probably family party. 16 Grey Partridges in 2 coveys. Sparrowhawk. North Fen Cut Drain bank. 2 Common Blue, 5 Small Heat and 1 brown Argus butterflies. PM&ID Hinton reservoir. 1 Little Egret and Hummingbird Hawk moth per MV. |
| 9 September: Station Rd garden Hoverfly - Volucella zonaria - one of the largest hoverfly species in the UK. Often get mistaken for a bee, poor thing! Rob Mills. PM note. These hoverflies are difficult. I read this one raids Wasps nests as larvae!  |
| 6 September: Some local sightings: Clayton’s Bridge - Buzzard 2+, Marsh Harrier 1 female, 1 juvenile, Hobby 1 hunting passerines south of Dam Bank Drove, Long Drove junction, Kestrel 2, Grey Partridge 1 female plus c10 juveniles, Lapwing 200+, Lesser Black-backed Gull c12, Herring Gull 1, Yellow Wagtail 1, Reed Warbler 1, Whitethroat 1. The Boot, Aldreth - Lesser Redpoll 1 over. Aldreth - Buzzard 1 juvenile and adult over the garden, calling, other people in village reported 6 together, Hobby 1 heard, Yellow Wagtail 1. Small Tortoiseshell 10+, Painted Lady 1, Red Admiral 1. Hummingbird Hawk-moth 1. Nine Acre Wood, Aldreth - Siskin 1 over. Great Green Bush-cricket 2 seen plus 2 more heard, Long-winged Conehead 2. Plus yesterday a Sand Martin at The Boot. Attached are some images taken today around Aldreth: Photographs: Misty ditch at Clayton’s Bridge, Great Green Bush-cricket, Long-winged Cone-head, Small Tortoiseshell, Hummingbird Hawk-moth. Simon.      |
| 5 September: A few bits of news from Aldreth for today:Buzzard 1 juvenile still around and very low over gardens in village food begging. Yellow Wagtail 1 over. Siskin small party over - 1st of autumn. Small Tortoiseshell - lots about. Painted Lady 1 in our front garden. Simon. |
| 4 September: Hummingbird Hawk-moth in our front garden, AldrethBuzzard 1 juvenile still around and very low over gardens in village food begging. Simon. |
| 2 September: 2 Spotted Flycatchers at The Boot, Aldreth. Simon.Yellow Wagtail 1 over. Simon. |
| 1 September: 2 Spotted Flycatchers at the bend at the western end of The Boot, whilst on a cycle ride with Oliver earlier. Simon. |
| 31 August: I had another Hummingbird Hawkmoth on buddleia yesterday, despite the rain. A good year for them, it seems. Nice parties of Long-tailed tits coming to the feeders, usually 6-8. I am trying an experimental seed called quinoa. It's similar in size and texture to red millet. No takers so far. I suspect it will be like the millet and appeal mainly to Tree Sparrows and Lesser Redpolls, assuming I get any this winter. Jake |
| 29 August: Long Drove. About 80-90 Lapwings and up to 25-30 Golden Plovers flighting in flock. Claytons Bridge 7-8 Common Buzzards, 1 juvenile Marsh Harrier, 2 Sparrow Hawks , 1 Hobby all interacting in air. 2 pairings of Emperor Dragonflies mating with more males trying to interfere. 1 Black-tailed Skimmer. Later on Graingers Drove up to 10 covey of Grey Partridges. Whitethroats. In Aldreth about 100 House Martins seemingly feeding of tops of 2 tall trees. Land and taking off again. Wonder if there were aphids on leaves or similar. PM&ID&SD. |
| 28 August: Whinchat 1 by Clayton’s Bridge. Simon. |
| 23 August: A 'call to arm's by the local swallows revealed a lovely Hobby over the house yesterday, followed later by a female Sparrowhawk. What will the local sparrows do without them when they go next month? Sheila Dickerson |
22 August: Guppys pond. Spent an interesting and quiet, sunny, hot couple of hours watching activity from Wendy & Brian Lanman's garden/balcony watching wildlife "up the Guppys Pond reedy creek". Brown Hawkers guarding the entrance. Picture of the creek entrance shown but BHs too far away to photo. Emperor Dragonflies parading and inspecting people and doing other things! 4 spot Chasers chasing, Common Darter pairs laying eggs on water surface. We had gone ostensibly to see if there were any of the newcomers to UK Willow Emerald Damselfly but none seen but the habitat is excellent for them and they have reached nearby Ely Roswell Pits. But we did find 2 Small Red-eyed Damselflies on some Blanket Weed which strangely is there habitat. Its amazing how much brighter their red eyes are than Common Red-eyed Damselflies which stick to larger lily pads. Pictures show Emperor Dragonflies mating in the reeds.(ID). Not very good shot of Small Red-eyed Damselfly (slightly out of focusPM) and a pale Old Lady moth found in Ian and Sheila's garden later. PM&ID    |
| 20 August: Latest news on my House Martins is that they are now nesting with male feeding female regularly. |
| 16 August: An odd sighting this morning an Oystercatcher on the roof. That's a first for the garden. Ian. |
| 13 August: Regarding my last post on House Martin behaviour (10 August below) I noticed last evening about 6pm four or five of them came in and snuggled down to roost in my one and only nest. Perhaps that's what they were sussing out previously. There's always an answer if you wait!! PaulM. |
| 12 August: This evening at 7:10 I heard a Greenshank calling several times as it flew low over our garden in Aldreth. Simon. |
11 August: Attached are images taken over the weekend of an immature male Southern Hawker and a Holly Blue apparently taking minerals from a damp patch of lawn near our pond. The Holly Blue continually returned to this patch of grass despite the fact that it was in deep shade. On 8th we had a Grass Snake in the pond. Simon.  |
| 10 August: I don't know if any body else who has House Martin nests on their house have noticed. For about 6-7 years I have had 1 pair of the birds successfully rear young in the nest they built up in an apex over my bungalow front window . Earlier this spring some came to my nest and hung around for a couple or three days and then moved on and no others took there place. The weather was cold in the cold spring we had and I assumed they couldn't find enough aerial pudding to stay to feed any young with although I heard of several pairs round a house about a mile away! I have noticed just today 4-6 birds going in and out from the nest (they did the same last year). What is going on. Are they marking the spot so as to return next year. Are they the failed pair plus some they might have reared in another place and say look you lot here is a place you can use later. Has anybody seen this behaviour also. They seem to have gone now. PaulM |
| 8 August: A solitary but pristine Painted Lady feeding on buddleia in the garden this morning. The first of an invasion? Or a straggler? Either way, looked magnificent in the sunlight. Jake. |
| 4 August: Around Aldreth over the weekend – Buzzard juveniles calling (possibly 3), Sparrowhawk juveniles calling (2 or 3), Swift 1 (most have now gone), Turtle Dove 1 still purring, Painted Lady 1, Hummingbird Hawk-moth 2 (one rescued from a spider’s web). Below are 2 photographs from our garden (neither were set-up) – close–up of female Southern Hawker dragonfly and a female Emerald Damselfly.   Jake |
1 August: Nth Fen Back Drove. Many Peacocks and 3 Painted Lady butterflies on Lesser Burdock. Adventurers Fen. Male Mars Harrier, Otherwise very quiet. PM&ID (Butterflies difficult to photograph as very active. ID)  |
27 July: A Comma taken in our Aldreth garden on 25th July. Not a winner, but I cannot resist taking pictures of Commas. SS |
| 23 July: Plant count at Dambank Bridge in water or on bank. Lesser Pondweed at Dam Bank Bridge: Ranunculus circinatus Fan-leaved Water-crowfoot Dam Bank Bridge Potamogeton natans Broad-leaved Pondweed Dam Bank Bridge TL4273 19 Jul 2015 Lemna trisulca Ivy-leaved Duckweed Dam Bank Bridge TL4273 19 Jul 2015 Torilis arvensis Spreading Hedge-parsley Dam Bank Bridge On bank. Photograph: Spreading Bur Parsley. An unusual plant of the umbellifer family that hugs the ground and forms a sort of long mat on the bank of the drain.  |
| 21 July: Dambank Bridge and Drain. Female Marsh Harrier on Long Drove end. On bank of drain Spreading Hedge Parsley. In drain Fine-leaved Water Crowfoot and rare Potomageton (Pondweed) to be ID positively. PM with County Botanic Recorder and D Hopkins. |
| 20 July: I can only think they are becoming more frequent but we had a hummingbird hawk moth on a buddleia in the garden yesterday (Aldreth). John Burgess. |
| 16 July: Trip round fens and drains proved a mixed lot today. Started with a male Marsh Harrier flying with a purpose by Galls Farm. In Galls Drain .Great Water Parsnip and Fine-leaved Water Dropwort showing. No dragonflies in this drain. Back Drove. Surprisingly birdless apart from Woodpigeons! Claytons Bridge over Adventurers Drain. 2 Emperor Dragonflies, 3 Black-tailed Skimmers. 2 Red-eyed Damselflies. 3 families of Yellow Wagtails looked promising. Graingers Drove. Very late family of Red-legged Partridges. 6 chicks only about 4-5 days old. Small birds in drove side tall plants only detectable by various quiet contact calls and ticks. PM&ID Red-legged Partridge and 6 chicks. Late brood photo ID  Great Water Parsnip by Galls drain bridge.  |
1 July: Pollen beetles. Scientific name Meligethes species on Rough Hawkbit. Aldreth Road. Not unusual but interesting. Harmless insects. PM  |
11 July: Just thought I'd let you know that the White Letter Hairstreaks are out down at Fairchild's. Saw several individuals today, definitely 5 and possibly as many as 7. Here's a couple of pics...Rob Mills.  |
| 10 July: A little bit of farming history turned up when a completely new field drain was cut near Cross Drove. Seeds of Common Flax were evidently disturbed and they flowered and set seedheads. This could have been originally grown during WW1 or 2 or even further back in Edwardian or Victorian times to make linen or sailcloth. Just a little one but this moth came in to the house yesterday (9th July 2015). It only has a scientific name but is quite attractive in a brown sort of way. Endotricha flammealis.  Photographs: left to right, then down: 1. Common Flax, 2. Flax Seedhead, 3. Herb Robert et al, 4. Rough Hawksbeard from above, 5. Weld (the bumblebees love this), 6. A bit of a mixture with Purple Toadflax and unidentified yellow flower (Some sort of Hawksbeard I think but don't know what). From the fens near Aldreth. 7. Black Horehound, 8 Record shot of Gadwall female in Church Fen Drain.         |
9 July: Here is an image of a Six-spot Burnet taken in our garden last weekend. Simon. |
| 6 July: Hummingbird Hawkmoth Aldreth Road Garden. This seems to be a good year for them. Several reported. PM |
| 4 July: Fairchild’s Meadow – White-letter Hairstreak 3. 27th June – Aldreth – Curlew 1 over village very early in the morning. Simon. |
| 4 July: Generally it seems our Swallow and House Martin numbers are down this year with on 5-6 nests active of House Martins in Hillrow. None in Aldreth Road this year although some where seen but did not stay. Usually 3 pairs of Swallows nest under bridges over fen drains but none this year. Probably all due to early cold weather. PM |
| 2 July: About 14.15 hrs, B and I were coming up the Twenty Pence Road out of Cottenham and we saw a red kite wheeling around. He was just north of the oil-recycling plant and went down in the field there. AJ &BG. |
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