Wild Girton
@wild-girton.bsky.social
A community hub for nature in Girton. Share your sightings, photos & questions about wildlife here.
Blue Tit/Peacock Photos: © http://garthpeacock.co.uk
Blue Tit/Peacock Photos: © http://garthpeacock.co.uk
Just in case you 'mist' it, here are some pictures of autumn putting on a show in your village this morning. Well worth finding out your shoes aren't waterproof anymore for!
September 29, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Just in case you 'mist' it, here are some pictures of autumn putting on a show in your village this morning. Well worth finding out your shoes aren't waterproof anymore for!
Last one from the great first year of the LNRP trailcam lending scheme. This curious badger seen at a house on the Huntingdon Road. Let us know if you would like to borrow the camera and find out what is visiting your garden
September 20, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Last one from the great first year of the LNRP trailcam lending scheme. This curious badger seen at a house on the Huntingdon Road. Let us know if you would like to borrow the camera and find out what is visiting your garden
Two reminders for today. First the Wellbrook Way open evening is on Monday 15th September and secondly the trail cam lending scheme is now open again. Please let us know if you would like to borrow it.
September 11, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Two reminders for today. First the Wellbrook Way open evening is on Monday 15th September and secondly the trail cam lending scheme is now open again. Please let us know if you would like to borrow it.
Phew, they are still out there! Common frog in the garden today, first one we've seen in ages, presumably because it's been just so dry.
July 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Phew, they are still out there! Common frog in the garden today, first one we've seen in ages, presumably because it's been just so dry.
We love hawkmoths! Here are three seen in Girton this year. Privet, Poplar, Elephant (from the LNRP moth trap) and Lime (credit Janet Sheard)
www.ukmoths.org.uk/thumbnails/s...
www.ukmoths.org.uk/thumbnails/s...
June 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
We love hawkmoths! Here are three seen in Girton this year. Privet, Poplar, Elephant (from the LNRP moth trap) and Lime (credit Janet Sheard)
www.ukmoths.org.uk/thumbnails/s...
www.ukmoths.org.uk/thumbnails/s...
Spectacular Swifts! Watching these visitors in our skies must surely be one of the top Wild Girton events in the calendar. This group nest on Wellbrook Way and was installed by Action for Swifts. Visit in the morning or evening to experience it at its best
June 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Spectacular Swifts! Watching these visitors in our skies must surely be one of the top Wild Girton events in the calendar. This group nest on Wellbrook Way and was installed by Action for Swifts. Visit in the morning or evening to experience it at its best
Take part in a scything course, led by Richard Brown (wildscythe.co.uk), in Girton on Friday 27 June, 9am to 3pm. It is free but we ask you to commit to at least one scything session at the Hibbert Ware Garden or at Town End Close. There are 6 places so let us know asap if you are interested.
June 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Take part in a scything course, led by Richard Brown (wildscythe.co.uk), in Girton on Friday 27 June, 9am to 3pm. It is free but we ask you to commit to at least one scything session at the Hibbert Ware Garden or at Town End Close. There are 6 places so let us know asap if you are interested.
The community trail-camera lending scheme is going very well! It has recently moved to its third household and captured lots of cool videos so far. Here's one from the village showing a badger browsing for worms. Please get in touch if you would like to find out what is visiting your garden!
May 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
The community trail-camera lending scheme is going very well! It has recently moved to its third household and captured lots of cool videos so far. Here's one from the village showing a badger browsing for worms. Please get in touch if you would like to find out what is visiting your garden!
Look at this beauty that showed up in the moth trap, placed in a back garden this weekend! It's a Poplar Hawkmoth and it was every bit as beautiful in real life as in the photo 😍
tinyurl.com/38snt87w
tinyurl.com/38snt87w
May 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Look at this beauty that showed up in the moth trap, placed in a back garden this weekend! It's a Poplar Hawkmoth and it was every bit as beautiful in real life as in the photo 😍
tinyurl.com/38snt87w
tinyurl.com/38snt87w
Corvids are known for being some of the cleverest birds. We've christened this one "Fondue" for their habit of softening bread in the bird bath. Bread is not the best food to give birds and better options (that involve less cleaning out of one's bird bath!) are available
tinyurl.com/yywf6fpv
tinyurl.com/yywf6fpv
May 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Corvids are known for being some of the cleverest birds. We've christened this one "Fondue" for their habit of softening bread in the bird bath. Bread is not the best food to give birds and better options (that involve less cleaning out of one's bird bath!) are available
tinyurl.com/yywf6fpv
tinyurl.com/yywf6fpv
Come and help the LNRP and Green Team to celebrate one year of the project working to rejuvenate the Hibbert-Ware memorial garden! Bank Holiday Monday, 2-4pm. There will be guided tours, a tree planting to remember George Thorpe and a chance to chat with the volunteers who work so hard on the garden
April 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Come and help the LNRP and Green Team to celebrate one year of the project working to rejuvenate the Hibbert-Ware memorial garden! Bank Holiday Monday, 2-4pm. There will be guided tours, a tree planting to remember George Thorpe and a chance to chat with the volunteers who work so hard on the garden
The Bittern, once common in the Fens but nearly wiped out by hunting and draining, has been successfully reintroduced to efforts by the RSPB. Known for its loud booming call, heard up to two miles away in calm conditions, the Bittern can now be found at RSPB Ouse Fen, Fen Drayton, and NT Wicken Fen
April 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM
The Bittern, once common in the Fens but nearly wiped out by hunting and draining, has been successfully reintroduced to efforts by the RSPB. Known for its loud booming call, heard up to two miles away in calm conditions, the Bittern can now be found at RSPB Ouse Fen, Fen Drayton, and NT Wicken Fen
A couple more butterflies enjoying the sunshine around your neighborhood
April 14, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A couple more butterflies enjoying the sunshine around your neighborhood
Spoonbills are named for their distinctive spatula-like bills, used to sift food from water with a sweeping motion. Absent breeding from the UK for 300 years, they began nesting again in 2010 on the North Norfolk coast, spreading to the Cambs Ouse Washes, where a pair bred successfully last year.
April 10, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Spoonbills are named for their distinctive spatula-like bills, used to sift food from water with a sweeping motion. Absent breeding from the UK for 300 years, they began nesting again in 2010 on the North Norfolk coast, spreading to the Cambs Ouse Washes, where a pair bred successfully last year.
Some signs of this year's butterfly count being better. Here is a lovely comma from the garden yesterday
April 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Some signs of this year's butterfly count being better. Here is a lovely comma from the garden yesterday
‘"April comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers." (Edna St. Vincent Millay) Ah, but what flowers. There’s something extra special about the wild blooms at this time of the year compared to their later, drowsier cousins. What special plants are you enjoying now?
April 4, 2025 at 7:00 AM
‘"April comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers." (Edna St. Vincent Millay) Ah, but what flowers. There’s something extra special about the wild blooms at this time of the year compared to their later, drowsier cousins. What special plants are you enjoying now?
First trailcam badger we've been sent this year. Thanks to Lucy Wilson
Badger sightings are not uncommon from the north of the village. We wonder if anyone further south has them too. Let us know
Badger sightings are not uncommon from the north of the village. We wonder if anyone further south has them too. Let us know
April 3, 2025 at 6:45 AM
First trailcam badger we've been sent this year. Thanks to Lucy Wilson
Badger sightings are not uncommon from the north of the village. We wonder if anyone further south has them too. Let us know
Badger sightings are not uncommon from the north of the village. We wonder if anyone further south has them too. Let us know
Tree climbing rabbit - not the sort of thing you see every day! Rabbits can do tremendous damage to trees young and old by stripping the bark which exposes the softer, more vulnerable parts of the tree and leaves it susceptible to bacterial infection.
March 27, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Tree climbing rabbit - not the sort of thing you see every day! Rabbits can do tremendous damage to trees young and old by stripping the bark which exposes the softer, more vulnerable parts of the tree and leaves it susceptible to bacterial infection.
A big thank you to everyone who came out for the water vole survey yesterday. We learned a lot from the Cambridgeshire Mammal Group and saw evidence of many different creatures including water voles, badgers and even otters!
March 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
A big thank you to everyone who came out for the water vole survey yesterday. We learned a lot from the Cambridgeshire Mammal Group and saw evidence of many different creatures including water voles, badgers and even otters!
REMINDER Water Vole survey is taking place this Saturday (25th March). Although unlikely to see these shy creatures face to face, we will be looking for burrows and other evidence of voles in residence. Meet on Manor Farm Road at 2pm and be sure to bring your wellies!
📷 Kate Spink
📷 Kate Spink
March 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
REMINDER Water Vole survey is taking place this Saturday (25th March). Although unlikely to see these shy creatures face to face, we will be looking for burrows and other evidence of voles in residence. Meet on Manor Farm Road at 2pm and be sure to bring your wellies!
📷 Kate Spink
📷 Kate Spink
A beautiful Blackcap Warbler visiting today. They are common with numbers increasing in the UK but an infrequent visitor to this particular bird bath.
The females are not as easily identified but you will agree that the male is an easy spot on account of the headgear!
The females are not as easily identified but you will agree that the male is an easy spot on account of the headgear!
March 15, 2025 at 5:59 PM
A beautiful Blackcap Warbler visiting today. They are common with numbers increasing in the UK but an infrequent visitor to this particular bird bath.
The females are not as easily identified but you will agree that the male is an easy spot on account of the headgear!
The females are not as easily identified but you will agree that the male is an easy spot on account of the headgear!
Lichens are strange, wonderful organisms. They are a mix of fungi and algae. The UK has roughly 1800 known species. They are found on trees, rocks, stone (churchyards are great for them) and soil, and their presence is a good indicator of air quality. Find out more at buff.ly/HnGyo6O
March 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Lichens are strange, wonderful organisms. They are a mix of fungi and algae. The UK has roughly 1800 known species. They are found on trees, rocks, stone (churchyards are great for them) and soil, and their presence is a good indicator of air quality. Find out more at buff.ly/HnGyo6O
Spring has made an appearance! As well as seeing several species of butterfly yesterday we also did the first back garden moth trapping of the season. One plume moth and six of these "Hebrew Character" named for its distinctive markings
butterfly-conservation.org/moths/hebrew...
butterfly-conservation.org/moths/hebrew...
March 9, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Spring has made an appearance! As well as seeing several species of butterfly yesterday we also did the first back garden moth trapping of the season. One plume moth and six of these "Hebrew Character" named for its distinctive markings
butterfly-conservation.org/moths/hebrew...
butterfly-conservation.org/moths/hebrew...
With the Spring dawn chorus growing, ID birds by sound is helpful. During our morning runs, we've heard Robins, Song Thrushes, & more. Learning bird calls takes time; bird sound ID apps like 'Merlin' can be useful, though not perfect. They're a good starting point if you can confirm by sight too.
March 5, 2025 at 8:00 AM
With the Spring dawn chorus growing, ID birds by sound is helpful. During our morning runs, we've heard Robins, Song Thrushes, & more. Learning bird calls takes time; bird sound ID apps like 'Merlin' can be useful, though not perfect. They're a good starting point if you can confirm by sight too.
The @rspb.bsky.social has stopped selling 'flat surface' birdfeeders due to their role in spreading diseases among birds like Greenfinches & Chaffinches. They may also affect other bird populations ( e.g Blue and Great Tits outcompeting Marsh Tits). It's crucial to regularly clean feeders.
February 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The @rspb.bsky.social has stopped selling 'flat surface' birdfeeders due to their role in spreading diseases among birds like Greenfinches & Chaffinches. They may also affect other bird populations ( e.g Blue and Great Tits outcompeting Marsh Tits). It's crucial to regularly clean feeders.