Ballachurry Reserve, 14th April 2016.

Freshly mown paths near Ginny's Bench.

I went to the Reserve on Thursday morning but was under time pressure and had to leave after just one circuit. During this time I had seen a pair of Reed Buntings several times, often at very close quarters. Unfortunately they always flew away before I had a chance to photograph them .As the sun was still shining after lunch I decided to go back to see if I could see them again. I'm so glad I did! Not only did I see & photograph the male Reed Bunting,I saw a lot more besides. Here is the full report:

Birds:

SC209694  (path junction)  2 x Great Tits 2 x Blue Tits;; Meadow Pipit; male Reed bunting landed in tree about 4 feet away from me then flew away. Photographed in same area later.

SC209694  (hide area) Wren; pair of Reed Buntings in hawthorn and flying together. Swallow dipping over pond; Blue Tit; Robin

SC209692 ( thicket ) Pheasant heard, not seen

SC208694 ( near firs) Chiffchaff heard, not seen; Willow warbler seen singing in tree ( & having a good stretch!); Wood Pigeon. male Blackcap.

SC208694 ( reed bed pond area) pair of Mallard;  Wren; Robin; male Chaffinch;

SC208695 ( beehive loop) 2 x BlueTits; Wren;  Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff ( not singing) 

SC209695 ( Orchard entrance area ) pair of Chaffinches; 2 x Great Tits  with nest box; 2 x Blue Tits

SC209693 Willow Warbler singing

SC209694 ( gorse boundary) Willow Warbler/ Chiffchaff ( not singing)

SC210694  ( near entrance)  Great Tit

Flying over: Hooded Crow; Herring Gulls; Wood Pigeons;,

Butterflies:

SC209694  ( Ginny's bench area)  Small Tortoiseshell x 4 seen together

SC209694   ( near Hide) Small Tortoiseshell

SC208694 ( on seasonal path through willows) Green Veined White ( first I have seen anywhere this year) 

SC210694 ( near entrance) Green Veined White ( this one was larger) 

 Ladybirds:

SC209695  7-spot Ladybird in gorse

Shieldbugs:

SC208694  Gorse Shieldbug near reed bed on gorse

SC209694   Gorse Shieldbugs x 19 along gorse boundary

Bees & Flies:

SC208695  Wild bees active in the Orchard

SC209693; SC209694;  Bumble bees  flying, in willows and on the ground

SC208695  unidentified small fly on daffodil;  3 other flies on daffodils

SC208695  mating Yellow dung flies

SC208695  Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly on dock

SC210694  Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly x 2 on Hemlock Water Dropwort

SC209694  Eristalis pertinax on gorse

SC209694  Unidentified flies in willows

Honey bees throughout reserve

Mammals:

 SC209694  Large Longtail in the ditch near GInny's Bench. It looked unhealthy, with damaged tail. Suspect it has taken bait somewhere outside the Reserve.

SC209694   Rabbits x 2 on the path

Other:

SC209695  20+ Water Crickets near inlet pipe

SC208694  3 Fresh Water Shrimps swimming near dam

SC208694  signs of a small kill near reed bed pond

SC208694  the Hogweed plant near the reed bed pond has been in continuous flower since February! 

SC208694  Marsh Marigolds; large patch of Stitchwort;

SC208694  Colourful orange algae in water filled ruts

Male Blackcap

Either a Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff

Definitely a Willow Warbler....

having a good stretch....

and warbling away.

Blue Tit

Reed Bunting

Gorse Shieldbugs

7-spot Ladybird

Colourful algae in water filled ruts

Bumble bees

Unidentified fly

Unidentified flies on daffs

Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly

First Green Veined White of the year

Green Veined White - the green veins are on the underside of the wings

Fresh Water Shrimp

Close-up of Water Cricket

Small Tortoiseshell

"Longtail" - I won't use the R-Word here!

Mating Yellow Dung Flies

Not strictly in the Reserve - wild bees in adjacent tree

Willows attracting many  bees

another bee in the willows

unidentified fly

side view of same insect - Hoverfly perhaps?

Hogweed

Stitchwort

This year's proud owners of the nest box