Ballachurry Reserve, Rushen, IOM.: Ballachurry Reserve, 19th April 2016.

A lovely spring day at Ballachurry Reserve

19^th April 2016

When I arrived at Ballachurry on Tuesday afternoon there was a battle taking place near the Notice Board as Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock butterfly fought for territory in the nettles. At one point there were 4 Small Tortoiseshells chasing the Peacock butterfly, spiralling up into the air. A little later it was the Peacock butterfly chasing a Small Tortoiseshell! Although there was plenty of birdsong to be heard, there was not much flitting about, unlike last week. Here is the report:

Birds:

SC208694 Sedge Warbler heard from inside the reed bed but not seen. This is rather earlier than in previous years, from memory.

SC209694 Mallard drake; Hooded Crow; Robin; Goldfinch

SC208694 Chaffinch; Willow Warbler; Blue Tit

SC208695 Robin; 2 x Blue Tits;

SC209695 Goldfinch; Wren; Great Tit

SC210694 House Sparrows x 3 ( one enjoying a dust bath in the ditch)

SC208694 ( firs) & SC210694 ( Old School House garden) Chiffchaff heard but not seen.

SC209695 Domestic white hen in ditch

Butterflies:

SC210694 Peacock; Small Tortoiseshells x 4; Green Veined White.

SC208695, SC209695 & SC209694 unidentified Whites, flying

SC209695 Small Tortoiseshell

SC209694 Small Tortoiseshell

Shieldbugs

SC209694 Gorse Shieldbugs x 8

SC208694 Gorse Shieldbugs x 10, including 2 mating pairs

Spiders:

SC208694 Wolf Spiders near the dam

Flies:

SC208694 Unidentified Crane Fly; Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly;2 mating pairs of Yellow Dung Flies; unidentified small fly on gorse

SC209695 Eristalis pertinax on Bowman Memorial Bench

SC209694 There was a large Hoverfly with an orange look about it hovering near the willows. I hoped it might settle but it was more interested in hovering.

Other:

SC209695 Water Crickets x 8 + leech egg sacks visible on stones in stream.

SC209694 White legged Snake Millipedes x 4, including ( I think) mating pair; Unidentified slug; Unidentified grub/caterpillar; Brandling worm

SC209694 First few Cuckoo Flowers/ Ladysmock in flower ( food plant of Green Veined White & Orange-tip butterflies)

SC209695 First sycamore flowers opening

SC208694 Large unidentified bumble bee on grass

Notes:

Despite the warm, sunny weather ( about 14 C) there were less birds flying about and less insects in the willows. The Reserve was noisier than usual with heavy plant working across the road at Ballakilley. One of the Self Heal plants from under the Notice Board had been pulled out and was dead on the grids, probably uprooted by foraging bird such as Blackbird or possibly the hen/ peacocks scratching from next door. I'll replace it when I can.