Six hundred and thirty Golden Plovers over Trumpington on 2^nd October was a good record (Steve Cooper, www.cbcwhatsabout.blogspot.com); Hobson’s Park is a good place to see overwintering birds. A Chiffchaff was singing in Long Road on 7^th October and another bird calling in Logan’s Meadow on the same day. It’s worth keeping ears and eyes alert for rare migrant warblers especially Yellow-browed Warblers that are being found increasingly inland and not just along the east coast in autumn. A probable was heard by Nick Littlewood on 19^th October in trees off the Fen Causeway but was not seen or relocated – they like Sycamores. In previous years, they have been seen and heard near Maids Causeway, Castle Hill (photographed) and last year in the trees bordering Stourbridge Common.

Trumpington Meadows on the 9^th October had three hunting Kestrels; five Little Grebes on the pond and a confusing first year female Tufted Duck without any sign of a tuft. Trumpington Meadows and Hobson’s Park have been buzzed by drones which certainly disturb wildlife. If you see drones there contact the Wildlife Trust and Cambridge City Council (Guy Belcher) respectively. Disturbance especially during the breeding season could be an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

My Robin has stopped attacking its reflection in my windows but Richard Price, whose house overlooks Hobson’s Park, sent me a picture of a stunned Meadow Pipit that had flown into his window; the bird recovered and flew off.

 

Stunned Meadow Pipit – Hobson’s Park (left)  Male Peregrine – Cambridge (right)

The night time recording of flyover migration by Simon Gillings (@simon_gillings) continues to produce fascinating records: overnight on 1^st – 2^nd October Pink-footed Geese; 7th-8th October, Common Scoter, Snipe, Redwing; 10^th – 11^th October, 352 Redwings and 101 Song Thrushes – the last date also saw big numbers of thrushes arrive along the east coast at Holme Bird Observatory. Goldcrests have either arrived from the continent or have disbursed from local coniferous nest sites: two were in the only trees in Thompsons Lane on 13^th October – potted Olive Trees – by Jesus Ditch and Beche Road

The more we know about bird migration the more remarkable it becomes – not less! The recording of night time migration at inland locations and the identification of species killed by Peregrines at their inland nest sites has added new dimensions to our understanding as well as satellite tagging and geo-locators, which require catching the birds and attaching these devices to them. The Cambridgeshire Bird Club has a conference on Bird Migration on Saturday 2^nd November at Cottenham Village College – all are welcome – details on the Bird Club’s web site.

At Wakefield Cathedral, beneath the Peregrine nest and roost site, the severed head of a Leach’s Petrel has been found! This pelagic species was either an inland vagrant brought in on strong winds (there is some evidence for this) or a strategic overland migration from the North Sea to the Irish Sea and then onwards to the south Atlantic where this species spends our winter. In spring, it returns to breed on the northern isles such as Foula. This bird never made it and was probably killed by a Peregrine at night.

The Cambridge Peregrines can still be seen regularly in the city centre and have been seen along Madingley Road (Robin Cox) and over the junction of Histon Road with Gilbert Road. The photograph shows the male, taken on 18^th October – the female is about a third larger with bigger moustaches!

Crowing over the flag!

Pre-roost gathering of Carrion Crows

Kestrel over Trumpington Meadows

Black-headed Gulls began to arrive along the river, in small numbers, from Riverside to Jesus Green in the second week of October; last winter numbers built up to about 275 birds. Grey Wagtails, typically birds of waterside can be seen and heard over any part of the City but two were around Jesus lock on 13^th October. A Red Kite was seen over farmland in the north of our project area on 19^th October. On the same date a pre-roost gathering of 35+ Carrion Crows assembled in Whytford Close, Chesterton, making an absolute din – a cacophony of crows! This number is probably half the City’s population. I have no idea why or whence they departed. I couldn’t resist photographing one Carrion Crow standing on the top of the flagpole above the Guildhall.

The photograph of the Roe Deer was taken on 15 October at the Stump, just east of the Fen Ditton/Horningsea Road on the edge of our project area; a good place to see Roe Deer in our project area.

Roe Deer at the Stump Spider season (left)  Garden Orb spider (right)

Bob Jarman bobjarman99@btinternet.com 25^th October 2018