Ballachurry Reserve: Sunday morning, 12th January 2025.

view across reserve from boardwalk, early January.

   A cancelled flight from Scotland followed by a delayed flight 2 days later meant that I had to miss the work party at Ballachurry Reserve on Saturday. However, needing a break from post holiday chores and a breath of fresh air I went down on Sunday morning and immediately noticed that the overhanging ivy had been cut back from the pavement outside the reserve. That huge pile of wood chip just inside the gate had also gone, sure sign of hard work by the volunteers. Although the weather was grey and chilly I noted the following wildlife:

Birds:

SC209693 I put up a Snipe from beside the path; Robin; 2 x Chaffinch; 2 x Great Tit.

SC209694 I put up a Woodcock near the path junction; Moorhen and Wren seen from hide; Sparrowhawk flew across path; female Blackbird.

SC208694 Blackbird alarm call heard from willows; 2 x Great Tit;  2 x male Chaffinch, one singing; 2 x Blue Tit; Wren.

 SC208695 (on or near feeders)  7 x Goldfinch; 2 x Great Tit; 2 x Blue Tit; 2 x male Chaffinch and 1 female;  Dunnock.

Other: 

SC209694 Yellow Brain fungus on log pile.

SC208695 2 x Longtails beneath feeders.

SC208694 unidentified toadstool beneath willows; unidentified  fungus on fallen twig.

SC208694 first Hogweed flower of the year.

Blue Tit

hungry Chaffinches

Great Tit and Goldfinches

5 of 7 Goldfinches using the feeders

Great Tit

Longtail scavenging below feeders

there were two of them

all part of the food chain!

fungus on fallen twig

decomposing the dead wood

unidentified fungus below the willows

Yellow Brain fungus

early Hogweed in flower

usual view of hide

 Unfortunately not everyone appreciates or values the Reserve. The hide reeked of tobacco today.

ash tray corner

discarded orange peel near the dragonfly pond

usual view of boardwalk- no sunshine today

looking back along boardwalk

boardwalk from the opposite end

dragonfly pond

some wood chip has been added by the bench

meadow

near the entrance

view from ramp

reeds near the bridge

looking through the shutters

and in the opposite direction

brambles cut back

 In just one morning from this....

to this!

new chip along the gorse boundary

ivy cut back along the pavement

Three cheers for the hard working Volunteers!

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Ballachurry Reserve: Thursday, 2nd January 2025.

 Happy New Year, everyone! 

hail on the mudflat - January 2025.

With "unbroken sunshine" forecast for Thursday, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for my first visit of 2025 to Ballachurry Reserve and  I did indeed arrive in sunshine on a cold and frosty morning.  At 10 o'clock it was just 4 degrees and there was frost on the grass as I entered the reserve. My initial photos have blue-sky backgrounds but cloud quickly built up,  looking positively ominous at times. The feeders were empty and the birds hungry after a cold night. They started flying in to feed before I had even finished filling them up. But then I felt the first stinging shafts of hail on my face and hurried back to the hide for shelter. The first shower was brief but a later one was heavy and quite prolonged. I did walk round again afterwards but more clouds were gathering and with so few birds about I decided not to linger - some hot tea was by now required! Here is what I recorded:

Birds: 

SC210694 Chaffinch heard not seen.

SC209693 Song Thrush;  Great Tit.

SC209694 ( hide) Moorhen; Robin; Kestrel flying through at low level.

SC209694 ( elsewhere) Wren; male Blackbird at path junction & male & female Blackbirds together on gorse boundary; 2 x Chaffinch; Robin; Magpie.

SC208694  male Chaffinch; Buzzard flying over adjacent field.

SC209695 (on or near feeders) 2 x Robin; 2 x Great Tit; Blue Tit; male & female Chaffinch; Goldfinch; Dunnock; male Blackbird.

SC208695 ( elsewhere)  Redwing; Magpie on the ground.

Blue Tit

Great Tit

Moorhen feeding

and swimming

Robin near the feeders

Robin among the hail stones

 

frost on the grass when I arrived

blue sky on arrival

usual view of Hide

view from the ramp on arrival

wintry sun across the meadow

sun picking out the board walk

frost lingering on the boards

looking back the way I've come

But then the light began to look more stormy............

gorse boundary

near the private entrance

 and the clouds more menacing............

an increasingly cloudy view from the board walk

not a twister, surely?

soon it began to  hail - twice!

hailstones floating away downstream as I hurried back to the hide

I got there in the nick of time!

it lasted quite a while

and gave quite a covering

view from ramp during hail storm

no blue sky now!

the dragonfly pond at the start of my visit

usual views

after the storm, with floating hailstones and interesting reflections

clouds reflected in pond

silver lining reflected in the water

  Not many bird photos to start the year, but an interesting visit none the less.

 And finally,

 Happy Birthday Blog!  Ten Years completed - today starts year Eleven.  

  🎂🥂

 

please click on photos to enlarge them