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| the main pond at Ballachurry Reserve |
As the summer butterflies fade away, the autumn fungi gain momentum, the 2 dovetailing beautifully and providing continued autumn interest at Ballachurry Reserve. There were not a huge number of birds on Wednesday morning, mainly because it was so very windy, I think, but there was drama from birds of prey and some enjoyable moments watching smaller birds drink from and bathing in the stream. Here is my report:
Birds:
SC209693 Chaffinch heard not seen; Robin heard not seen; 4 x Jackdaws flying over.
SC208694 Buzzard hassled by Magpie and again later by a corvid; Robin; 4 x Goldfinch flying over; Blackbird heard not seen; Sparrowhawk mobbed by Goldfinches and later by a large corvid.
SC209694 ( hide) Water Rail flew from one side of pond to the other, dark legs trailing down and vanished into the reeds; Sparrowhawk flew into vegetation at back of pond and later flew along inside it putting up c.10 Goldfinches which were perched inside the bushes; GreatTit.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) 5 x Goldfinch in and out of stream drinking and bathing; male and female Blackbird seen in stream; male Chaffinch bathing in stream; Great Tit drinking from stream. c. 10 Goldfinch flying over.
SC209695 Robin heard not seen.
Butterflies:
SC209695 Red Admiral on the bench.
Fungi:SC2094369400 a Yellow Fieldcap growing in grass at the side of the path.
SC2088069453 a Yellow Fieldcap growing in the meadow.
SC2088069454 Pleated Inkcap.
Sc2088669447 Pleated Inkcap.
SC2094369400 Pleated Inkcap.
SC2087469428 several clumps of Clavulina cristata Coral fungus.
SC2087769418 a new location for Clavulina cristata Coral fungus.
SC2087469437 larger, taller specimen of Clavulina cristata Coral fungus.
SC2087769418 tiny bracket fungi growing on dead ( willow?) twig.
SC2087769418 tiny stalked fungi growing on dead ( willow?) twig.
SC2089369514 Pestle Puffball.
SC2089769511 Pestle Puffball.
SC2087169434 Shiner Milkcap x 3 (Lactarius uvidus)
SC2087569440 new location for Shiner Milkcap x 5 (Lactarius uvidus)
SC2090369514 Fungi Species growing round bench in grass, possibly Deceivers?
SC2085869465 Brown Rollrim
If fungi particularly interest any readers of this Blog you might like to consider joining the IOM Fungus Group which arranges forays throughout the autumn and winter. Here are the details of the group taken from their Facebook page:
***WE ARE NOT A FORAGE FOR FOOD GROUP*****
This is the facebook page of the Isle of Man Fungus Group (a membership organisation). Our group leads regular forays, organizes workshops and other fungus-related events. It is for anyone who wants to discover and enjoy mushrooms and toadstools, whether their interest is in natural history, photographing or having a fascinating day out with the family in the Manx countryside. Everyone is welcome to show their fungus pictures here.
Please do not ask for the identification for edibility or narcotic purposes. Any help offered by fungus group members on this page is on the understanding that fungi are not to be consumed. Any deaths or serious poisonings are the responsibility of the person eating or preparing the fungus for others. Although some members do eat fungi no-one is willing to take someone else’s life into their hands. Stay safe.
The Group organises forays which are free for paid-up members and for non-members £5 a foray. Membership is £10 (individual) or £15 (couple/family).
For further information contact fungusiom@gmail.com
Other:
SC2089369514 Suillia species fly on Pestle Puffball ( or possibly Dryomyza anilis)
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| Sparrowhawk being hassled by large Corvid |
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| the Sparrowhawk then turned on the Corvid! |
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| the sparring went on for some time |
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| male Chaffinch enjoying a bath |
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| Goldfinches likewise |
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| Red Admiral sunbathing on bench |
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| Yellow Fieldcap in the "field" |
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| this one was along a path |
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| Coral fungi |
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| they are hard to spot among the leaf litter |
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| these fungi were growing round one of the benches |
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| their varying appearance makes me think.... |
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| that they are "Deceivers" |
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| their gills give a white spore print |
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| The "milk" in this Milkcap eventually stains dark red |
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| I found them in two locations |
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| half an hour later the stain had appeared |
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| the Pestle Puffballs are back in their usual location |
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| this one had a visitor |
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| probably a Suillia species |
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| Pleated Inkcaps continue to appear |
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| these tiny brackets were only a few millimetres in size |
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| they were growing on a dead twig |
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| this stalked fungus was also tiny and growing on a twig |
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| Parmelia sulcata lichen on
bridge handrail |
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| I arrived about 09.15 - cloudy, windy but dry |
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| the path through the reeds has been widened |
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| usual path junction photos |
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| repairs are still being undertaken on the hide |
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| view from the hide ramp towards the meadow |
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| all was quiet on the water |
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| although the reeds were almost flattened by the gusty wind occasionally |
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| the meadow area |
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| and looking the other way |
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| I went over the bridge |
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| into the willows |
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| no longer any Speckled Woods to be seen here |
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| and very little birdsong today either |
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| back over the bridge to the meadow |
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| and over the boardwalk |
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| the stream leading into the reeds from under the boardwalk |
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| surprisingly little water flowing despite recent rain |
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| view from the boardwalk |
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| my usual stroll through the Ashes |
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| emerging by the bench |
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| where I paused briefly to look at fungi |
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| and take in the view |
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| autumn colours - I stopped here to watch the birds bathing |
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| then continued along the gorse boundary |
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| to the dragonfly pond |
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| too windy and dull for dragonflies today |
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| open area near Ginnie's Bench |
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| then heading for the gate |
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| a backward glance before leaving |
It was a very enjoyable morning ( I stayed 4 hours!). My thanks to Steve Crellin for identifying the fly on the Puffball. To finish here is a short video of the Goldfinches enjoying their bath in the stream.
please click on photos to enlarge them
For the Year of the Manx Language, Blein ny Gaelgey 2026, here are a few of the species seen today.
Birds Ushagyn:
Chaffinch Ushag y Chloau; Robin Spittag ; Jackdaw Caaig
Buzzard Shirragh; Magpie Pieanat; Goldfinch Lossey ny Keylley; Blackbird Lhon Doo
Sparrowhawk Shirragh ny Giark; Water Rail Drean Ushtey; GreatTit Drean Mooar
Butterflies Foilleycanyn:
Red Admiral Ard-marragh Jiarg.
