MAY 2015
8th May 2015
We returned from our
Scottish holiday trip on Tuesday evening and this afternoon was my first
opportunity to visit Ballachurry. I was curious to see how things had
changed during my absence but unfortunately, it began to rain soon after I
arrived but I did manage a quick survey before taking refuge in the Hide.
Plants:
The first thing I noticed
was how lush everything was and how the vegetation had grown since my last
visit. Nettles growing fast now ready for the butterfly caterpillars and
ladybirds. Hemlock Water dropwort, some now in bud. Hogweed growing apace.
Red Campion in flower;
Garden escape Oxalis has a few flowers; Spanish bluebells in blue and
white SC210694
Pink and white Ladysmock
SC209694
The Memorial cherry tree is
now in full flower SC210694
Flowering currant now open
SC208695
Some Hawthorn trees now have
blossom SC208694
Marsh Marigolds making
a bright splash and a large patch of Stitchwort too SC209694.
Birds:
Sedge Warblers are back
SC209693, SC209694 & SC208694. I could hear them before I could see
them - football rattles, squeaks and whistles! I stopped by the second pond
where one was in full voice somewhere in the reeds. I waited patiently
and eventually it flew up and caught a fly and returned to base. Finally it
flew out again and landed in the nearby willows where I managed a very bad
photo (but it's OK as a record shot).
2 x Mallard; Male
Moorhen and Male Blackbird SC209694 - seen from hide.
Female Moorhen second pond
SC208694
Bluetit near Ginny's bench
SC 209694
Swallows flying over.
Pheasant heard but not seen.
Other:
Campion aphids have
arrived SC210694 ( just need some ladybirds to eat them now)
Hedgehog scats here and
there.
Water crickets in stream
SC209695
Big greenish beetle; 2 x
White-legged snake millepedes ; numerous small beetles SC209694 (under
carpet)
9TH
May 2015
Having been rained off yesterday I went back to the Reserve this afternoon in the lovely sunshine and spent
a couple of hours there to do the job properly, principally hoping to see some
butterflies, which I duly did.
Butterflies:
SC210694 A very ragged
Peacock butterfly sitting on the stone where the palm tree used to be.
SC210694 3 x Small
Tortoiseshells seen together in the area on nettles, grass etc.
SC209694 Small Tortoiseshell
flying past Ginny's bench down towards the Orchard entrance.
SC209694 Small Tortoiseshell
near the path junction willows
SC209694 Small Tortoiseshell half way along the gorse boundary
SC208694 2 x Small
Tortoiseshells near the second pond
SC208694 Small Tortoiseshell
on the strimmed path
SC209693 Small Tortoiseshell
on path leading towards Church corner. Some of these Small
Tortoiseshells could be the same ones seen over again in different
places, of course.
SC209693 male Orange Tip
flying
SC209694 male Orange Tip
flying near Hide
SC208694 male Orange Tip
flying near strimmed path
SC209694 male Orange Tip
flying along gorse boundary Did I see 4 x Orange Tips or the
same one in different places????
Birds:
SC209694 ( willows) Sedge
Warbler
SC209694 ( trees close to
edge of pond) Sedge Warbler
SC209603 (reeds in front of
church boundary) Sedge Warbler
SC208694 ( second pond
reeds) Sedge Warbler
SC209694 ( gorse boundary)
Sedge Warbler
SC209695 ( in gorse/
brambles close to orchard entrance bench) Sedge Warbler.
SC209695 ( near orchard
entrance) Male Blackcap; Wren; Great tit; Male Blackbird with beak full of
worms; 2 x Goldfinch
SC208695 "beehive
corner" Male Blackbird with beak full of worms again.
SC210694 ( near entrance)
Wren
SC209694 ( hide pond) 2 x
Mallard; Moorhen; Jackdaw also seen in tree from Hide.
SC209693 ( near road)
Chaffinch
SC209694 ( gorse boundary)
Chaffinch
SC208694 ( firs) possible
female Whitethroat? Photographed from hide and only visible through
binoculars. Photograph is very distant.
SC209694 ( between pond and
Church boundary) Chiffchaff heard but not seen.
Willow Warbler &
Pheasant heard but not seen;
Other:
SC209695 (
stream near pipe) 4 x Water Crickets ( Caddis Fly larvae ID was confirmed
by Dawn Dickens but they have now gone)
SC209694 ( under/on carpet)
Wolf spider; brown slug;
SC210694 ( under/ on carpet)
long( rove?) beetle;
SC209694 ( under carpet)
large brown slug.
SC209695 ( nearest
gorse bush to piped stream) 7 x Gorse Shield Bugs. Two of the gorse seed pods
have eggs on them - possibly those of the shield bugs? Will try to monitor.
SC208695 ( "beehive
corner) Hoverfly
SC208694 ( strimmed path)
Hoverfly
SC209695 large Bumble Bee
SC209694 ( near path
junction, under carpet) large beetle
Notes:
Delighted to see the new
benches in the hide - certainly made the bird watching more comfortable.
Not so good was the large
pile of dog mess along the gorse boundary path.
Grids again doing their work
where land flooded ( although very edge of grid flooded slightly in one place)
I know the Reserve was
visited by at least 5 people on Saturday. 3 bird watchers/ naturalists +
a couple just enjoying a walk round who made favourable comments.
13th May 2015
Today I
only "popped in" at the
Reserve to check on the the development of the gorse shieldbug eggs ( I.D.
confirmed) but on such a beautiful afternoon who could resist staying longer?
BIrds:
SC210
694 Wren flying into the ivy ( nesting?)
SC209694
Blackbird ( gorse boundary); Sedge Warbler ( near gridded path);
SC209694
(Seen from hide) Sedge Warbler; 2 x Moorhen; 2 x Mallard; Hybrid duck ( seen at
the same time as mallards - is somewhat larger)
SC208694 (
Second pond) Sedge Warbler
SC208695 (
beehive corner) Great Tit; Goldfinch;
SC209694 (
Ginny's bench area) 2 x Sparrows ( one was sitting on the bench!) Sedge
Warbler; Goldfinch;
SC209695 (
near orchard entrance) Magpie; Chaffinch; Bluetit going in and out of
box; Great Tit emerged from round hole in tree just below box;
SC209694 (
path junction willows) 2 x Goldfinches. Sedge Warbler.
SC209693 (
near Church boundary corner) Male Pheasant.
SC208694 (
strimmed path) Hooded Crow
Chiffchaff
heard but not seen;
Flying
over: Swallows over pond seen from hide. 2 x Wood Pigeon
Butterflies:
SC209694
Wall Brown; 2 x Small Tortoiseshell.
SC208695
Unidentified white flying
SC209695
Small Tortoiseshell
Gorse
Shieldbugs:
I did not
do a proper count but there were 3 near the eggs, which look just the
same.
Other:
SC208695
Wild bees active in their orchard tree.
SC208694
Black and white cat.
SC209695
Honey bees active in the sycamore flowers.
SC209695
Small unidentified spider in the gorse.
Bumble
bees on the wing generally; St. Marks flies.
SC208695
Hoverfly and another large fly on trunk of ash sapling.
Notes:
The left
hand door of the tool store was open. As far as I could see no tools were
missing but we should perhaps make a list of what is there. The padlock was
still closed on the other door, so it looks as though the bolt on the left hand
side is at fault. I bolted it again and hope it will hold.
23rd May 2015
Birds:
Sedge
Warblers seen at various locations in SC209694, including from Hide.
Also in the beehive corner SC208695
Female Reed
Bunting near Beehive corner SC208695 ( Thanks to Neil Morris for confirming the
ID. He saw a male earlier in the week)
Sparrow
f.SC209695 & m at SC209694
2 x Moorhen
Hide pond SC209694
Chiffchaff,
Chaffinch & Pheasant heard but not seen.
Butterflies:
SC210694
Wall Brown ( entrance)
SC209694
Wall Brown ( gorse boundary)
SC209694
Wall Brown ( Ginny's bench) and also near the path junction.
SC209694
Small Tortoiseshell
SC209694
( near Ginny's bench) Caterpillars - probably Small Tortoiseshell, a little
difficult to distinguish from Peacock when so small. I imagine quite a few will
be fed to fledgeling birds.
SC209694
Unidentified White flying.
SC209694
Orange tip eggs on Ladysmock flowers adjacent to gridded path.
Gorse
Shieldbugs:
The ones I
had hoped to monitor have vanished in my absence ( hatched or predated?) there
are more however at same location SC209695
2 adults at
SC209695 and another on gorse near the dam at SC208694
Plants:
SC210694 A
Sow thistle and a Poppy have appeared against the wall near the gate
SC208695
Hogweed in full flower attracting insects.
SC209695
Rowan in full flower.
Dandelions
and daisies attracting insects throughout reserve.
Spiders:
SC208694
Wolf spiders on board walk
SC209695 Some
Shieldbug eggs appeared to have 2 small spiders "guarding"
them.
SC208694
Small green spider in hawthorn near second pond.
SC209694
Spider that was able to camouflage itself as a gorse spine.
SC209694
Small spider on bolt of hide. When enlarged on screen appears to be young Cross
Spider.
Other:
SC210694
At least 6 small green beetles in the nettles
SC210694
Campion aphids on Red Campion near concrete bridge
SC209695
Noon fly on tree guard ( first I've seen this year)
SC209695
Water crickets in stream
SC208695
& 209695 Bumble bees on Hogweed & resting on the ground, others
flying throughout reserve.
SC208694 St
Marks flies on Hawthorn and throughout reserve.
SC208695
Hoverfly on hogweed
SC209694
Numerous flies in swarms over water
Notes:
Water
flowing under dam rather than over it.
Third bench
now in situ.
28th May 2015
I was
dropping something off at the tool store at lunch time today and tried very
hard not to be distracted by the wildlife..........!
However, I
couldn't believe my luck when I noticed a Gorse Shieldbug laying eggs. When she
was done she stomped off into the heart of the gorse bush and wasn't at all
careful about where she was putting her feet. The pale green eggs colour up
within seconds of being laid. I felt very privileged to witness this.
