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| a cold January day at Ballachurry Reserve |
This week's weather forecast suggested no ideal day for a visit to Ballachurry Reserve, so on Wednesday I bit the bullet, added extra layers of clothing, and arrived just after 9 o'clock. It was 6 degrees centigrade but the very strong south-easterly wind made it feel much colder and I had to walk round at a quicker pace than usual just to keep warm. At least I kept dry. There was rain forecast for midday but when it started right on cue I was already back at the gate and heading for home. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC209694 (hide) no birds seen from hide!
SC209694 (elsewhere) Hooded Crow flying over; 4 x Goldfinch flying over; Blackbird alarm calls heard near the hide and elsewhere; Grey Heron seen from distance dropping down to pond but also seen just minutes later heading back the way it had come. Seen again later flying across reserve and off towards Ballakilley direction.
SC209693 Robin; Blue Tit; male Chaffinch in the vegetation; Blackbird alarm call heard.
SC208695 ( on or near feeders, difficult to count numbers with such frenetic activity!) at least 5 Blue Tits; 5 x Great Tits; Coal Tit; 4 x Goldfinch; 4 x Chaffinch; 2 x Robin; Dunnock on the ground; Blackbird flew through at speed doing a good imitation of a Sparrowhawk, scattering the small birds on the feeders; Magpie sitting in the tree; Great Spotted Woodpecker seen twice in the tree. On my first circuit of the Reserve it was at the back of the branches and played "peek-aboo" looking out at me first from one side, then the other before flying away. On my second circuit it flew in from the right hand side and settled towards the back of the tree where it was just about visible. It stayed about 5 minutes before flying away; Rook atop of the tree and 2 Jackdaws lower down.
SC208694 Chaffinch heard not seen; Greenfinch heard not seen; Woodpigeon flying over; Robin; Great Tit.
Other:
SC209694 Green Shieldbug on Broom vegetation by dragonfly pond.
SC209694 Lesser Celandine in flower; Long catkins on Hazels; Fresh new leaves on Hawthorn
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| the feeders were busy - Blue Tit & Great Tit |
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| Blue Tit & female Chaffinch |
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| this Blue Tit is ringed |
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| three in this photo |
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| there were at least 5 |
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| Robin thinking about it |
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| Great Tit likewise |
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| a feeder each for the Great Tits |
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| Robin |
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| Magpie |
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| Heron flying over, seen 3 times in all |
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| Great Tit |
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| "blink and you'll miss me" |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| I was surprised to see this Green Shieldbug |
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| first Celandine of 2026 |
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| Catkins lengthening on Hazel |
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| fresh green leaves on the Hawthorn! |
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| rather a bleak, cold day as I arrived |
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| the floods are back both sides of the path |
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| reeds looking rather scruffy now |
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| usual view of the hide |
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| the path remains flooded |
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| looking back the way I came |
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| there is a natural oily film on the water as well as orange algae |
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| the pond seen from near the path junction |
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| the path junction |
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| the new glade.... |
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| from both directions |
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| usual view from the hide ramp |
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| through the shutters - notice the reeds bending in the strong wind |
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| no Mallards today |
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| stream flowing over the mudflat |
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| usual view of the meadow |
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| the Dropwort is growing strongly beside the stream |
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| I'm heading for the bridge |
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| the reeds have been flattened by the weather |
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| there was not a great deal about under the willows |
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| we can perhaps expect more flowers now there is more light |
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| the "unofficial pond" is bigger than ever |
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| the coppiced willows will put out new growth in the spring |
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| I look forward to hearing the "master plan" for this area |
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| the hide seen from the new dead hedge |
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| heading back to cross the bridge |
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| view across meadow from bridge |
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| usual view towards boardwalk |
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| there was some blue sky - but in the wrong place! |
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| looking back from the boardwalk |
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| usual shot of the stream from the boardwalk |
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| and usual view from the boardwalk - cloudy skies |
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| the little copse contained by the old beehive loop |
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| and seen from the other side |
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| open area near the Bowman Memorial Bench |
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| not quite so much water gushing in this week |
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| bare apple trees along the gorse boundary |
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| the dragonfly pond |
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| a bit too damp and chilly to spend time on the bench |
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| finally, I'm heading for the gate as the first raindrops fall |
Despite the cold, windy weather there were a few signs of spring at the Reserve but for me the highlight of the visit was again seeing the Great Spotted Woodpecker. Well worth the chilly wait near the feeders to see it!
please click on photos to enlarge them
