Ballachurry Reserve, Rushen, IOM.: 07 JULY 2015

JULY 2105

5^th July 2015

I'm a little late with my reports for July because we have had family staying with us. On 5th July we paid a brief visit to the Reserve to introduce out grandchildren ( aged 6 and 3) to the delights of sitting in the Hide in the dark with mini binoculars. They very much enjoyed the visit and were good at spotting things at low level as they walked round.The family also found an interesting caterpillar which I think is a new species for the reserve. This is not a proper report, but I did jot down the following:

Sedge Warbers SC209694, SC209693. Sparrow Hawk SC209694. Moorhen SC209694.

2 x Common Blue damselflies SC209694; 2 x Common Blue damselflies SC208694.

2spot Ladybird SC210694. 2 x 7spot Ladybirds SC210694.

2 x Meadow Brown butterflies SC208694

Six Spotted Burnet moth caterpillar SC208694 NEW RECORD

Blackthorn caterpillars are pupating SC208694 (identified by Kate Hawkins as Orchard Ermine Moths)

Noon fly SC210694

Yellow Snail SC209695

15th July 2015 .

Here is the report from today’s visit to Ballachurry Reserve.

Ladybirds:

SC210694 2 x 7spot Ladybird; 7spot larva.

Birds:

SC210694 juvenile Blackbird

SC209694 Magpie; Male blackbird;Wren.

SC209695 Chiffchaff calling from orchard

There was a pellet on the hand rail near the second pond - some of our birders might be able to suggest which bird left it? (in fact, everyone I consulted had a different opinion!)

Butterflies:

SC210694 2 x Meadow Brown; Large White; Small Tortoiseshell.

SC209694 (path junction)Meadow Brown

SC209694 ( Ginny's bench) 2 x Meadow Brown; Small Tortoiseshell

SC208694 ( Willow path) Meadow Brown

SC208694 ( second pond) Meadow Brown x 3

SC208695 ( beehive loop) Meadow Brown

SC209695 (orchard entrance) Meadow Brown

SC209695 ( stream area) Meadow Brown

SC209693 ( path parallel to road ) Meadow Brown

Damselflies:

SC209694 ( near hide) 2 x Common Blue damselflies

SC208694 ( willows path) 2 x Blue tailed damselflies

SC209694 ( Ginny's bench) Blue tailed damselfly

Other:

SC208694 ( near second pond) Black and White Hoverfly ( Scaeva pyrastri?)

SC209694 ( Ginny's bench area) Black and White Hoverfly ( Scaeva pyrastri?)

SC208694 ( near dam) Common green capsid bug on thistle

SC208694 ( second pond area) 1 adult Gorse Shieldbug + 14 instars ( various stages of development)

SC208694 ( second pond area ) large web with small spider in gorse

SC208694 ( second pond area) Crane fly

SC209695 ( near stream) Adult Gorse Shieldbug + 2 instars

SC209695 ( near stream) caterpillars on Hogweed now identified as Depressaria daucella ( also seen previously on Hemlock Water Dropwort)

SC208694 ( near dam) bumble bee on Greater Birds Foot Trefoil ( I love the way the photo has captured the vibration of the wings)

Micromoths throughout reserve.

Soldier beetles throughout reserve, especially on hogweed.

7spot Ladybird

Larva of 7spot Ladybird

Unknown bird pellet

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly

Soldier Beetles

Wren

29th July 2015

The reserve was looking lush and beautiful today with lots to see and record.

Ladybirds

SC210694 3 x 7spot ladybirds + 7spot pupa ( pupa was in same place as last time's larva, so possibly the same one)

Butterflies & Moths

SC208694 ( near the dam) 6-Spot Burnet Moth on thistle. This was in the exact spot where my son-in-law found the Burnet Moth caterpillar a few weeks ago, which suggests the larva was a 6spot and not a narrow bordered 5 spot. Last year I saw a Burnet moth flying through the reserve but this is the first time I have been able to photograph one.

Micromoths throughout reserve.

Not much difference in pupating moth caterpillars at SC208694 on Blackthorn.

SC209694 total 8 Meadow Browns seen in this grid reference area.

SC208694 total 4 Meadow Browns seen in this grid reference area

SC210694 2 x Meadow Browns seen together

SC208695 3 x Meadow Browns

SC208694 Small Tortoiseshell.

Damselflies

SC210694 Blue Tailed Damselfly

SC209694 2 x Common Blue Damselflies

SC209694 black Damselfly with green thorax markings ( I think this is a female but not sure of species, seeking advice)

Birds

SC208694 4 x Goldfinch in firs

SC208695 There was a light coloured fledgeling preening itself in the hawthorn in the old beehive corner. It also spent time lifting its wings so the sun could shine underneath, which I think helps rid it of parasites. I think it was a young Sedge Warbler but am seeking advice on this. Just a little lower down the tree was another which was dozing .

Also in the hawthorn and flying about in the hogweed, taking the seeds , were 3 small birds which I think were Willow Warblers rather than Chiffchaffs but again I am taking advice.

Dunnock in the hawthorn.

The tall Hogweed makes an excellent cover for someone who is only 5 ' 2", like me! I stood very still on the path behind it and the birds didn't seem to notice me at all!

SC209695 Wren

SC209694 2 x Goldfinch; Sedge Warbler heard but not seen

Flying over: 2 x Wood pigeon; Swallow; House Martin;

Beetles & Bugs:

SC209693 Tortoise/ thistle beetle larva ( Cassida rubiginosa). These little creatures have the delightful habit of covering themselves in frass (aka poo!) This one was on a thistle ( the ones in my garden are on Knapweed and I have seen them"exercising" by lifting the frass up and down in the air - fascinating!)

SC208694 Soldier beetles throughout the reserve including this reference SC208694

SC208694 unidentified Chrysomelid beetle on thistle near dam

SC208694 Common Green Capsid Bug on same thistle as above. Another nearby. ( I didn't notice the other things on the thistle until I enlarged the photo - cuckoo spit leaf hopper, small fly, another darker capsid bug? and what is the green insect lurking there ? )

SC208694 Unidentified leaf hopper on same thistle as above

SC208694 Unidentified beetle (possibly Coccidula rufa? ladybird family associated with wetlands - seeking advice)

SC208694 ( nearest gorse bush to dam) 6 x adult Gorse Shieldbugs ( some in Spring colours, some in late summer colours) + numerous larva instars in various stages of development. Photo shows most of these stages from early ( although not the smallest) through to adult all collected together.

Other:

Various hoverflies including, I think, the Marmalade Fly Episyrphus balteatus ( no photo) at SC209693 & SC208695 and Syrphus family at SC208694

Near the orchard entrance SC209695 was a fly very similar to the Noon Flies but this one seemed a little different, a bit fatter.

Various Bumble bees and honey bees throughout reserve.

Tiny money spider at SC209693

Probable Hedgehog scat SC209693

Many thistles have black aphids including SC209693

Field grasshopper heard but not seen opposite the noticeboard SC210694

Oxalis plant with pink flowers near the gate has seeded to opposite side of the track a little further on now SC210694

Opium poppies just inside the gate in a rich dark purple. SC210694

SC209694 Unidentified Crane fly

Wolf spiders throughout reserve

I had taken the loppers with me intending to spend half an hour cutting back foliage that had fallen onto the paths but it took me so long to walk round and record everything ( two and a half hours!) that I had to abandon this idea and go home for a late lunch! Family arriving tomorrow, so probably won't be visiting for 10 days or so.