Ballachurry Reserve, Rushen, IOM.: Ballachurry Reserve, 27th and 28th July, 2016

Birdfood!

The weather was lovely on Wednesday afternoon when I visited the Reserve. I chatted with some of the Reserve's "regulars" who told me the Water Rail had been seen and photographed on a couple of occasions recently. Excellent news! Several people had also seen a Blackcap in the Rowans across from the hide, so I decided to take a look. I waited very patiently and did eventually see it but only managed to get a record shot before it flew away again. Notice the number of berries missing from the stalks! Here is the full report:

Birds:

SC209694 Blackcap, male.In Rowan across pond

SC209694 2 x Blackbirds. Taking berried from Rowan across pond.

SC208694 Willow Warbler

SC209694 Goldfinch feeding on thistles

Sparrowhawk flew over reserve and into the Orchard

Butterflies:

SC209694 Green Veined White.

SC209693 Common Blue; unidentified white flying

SC209694 Meadow Brown

SC210694 Wall Brown; unidentified white flying

SC208694 Meadow Brown; unidentified white flying

Moths and Caterpillars:

Micomoths flying up from grass throughout reserve

SC208695 Different sort of micromoth on grass

SC208694 Large day-flying moth on Purple Loosestrife ( seeking ID)

SC208694 Small but very brightly coloured caterpillar on Blackthorn ( Grey Dagger moth?) New Record

Plants:

SC208694 Common Valerian has appeared near the dam

SC210694 Scarlet Pimpernel has appeared by the noticeboard New Record

Ladybirds & Beetles:

SC208694 2 x 7-spot Ladybirds in thistles with plenty of black thistle aphids for them to eat.

SC208694 Unidentified Chrysomelid beetle on direction post. Maroon tone.

SC208694 Soldier Beetles throughout the reserve and at this location

Shieldbugs & other bugs:

SC208694 Over 30 instars of Gorse Shieldbugs at different stages + 2 x adults in one gorse bush.

SC208695 & SC209695 instars of Hawthorn Shieldbugs on the Rowan berries..Seem to be early and 4th Instars.

SC208694 Capsid bugs on thistles

SC208694 Leaf hopper

Spiders:

SC208694 Usual wolf spiders on bridge ( egg sack has turned brown from green) ; small spider on Blackthorn

SC209694 Nursery Web Spider ( Pisaura mirabilis) with young in nursery web. Spider is inset in photo

Grasshoppers:

SC210694 Field Grasshoppers ( very pleased that they have survived a tonne of pea gravel being dumped on their habitat!)

Hoverflies & other Flies:

Numerous flies throughout reserve including SC209694, 208695,208694

SC210694 Rhingia campestris Hoverfly

SC209694 Unidentified mating hoverflies

Sc209695 Very small unidentified hoverfly on Cushag ( Ragwort)

SC210694 Liocoris tripustulatus on nettles

Bees:

Honey bees, Carder bees and various Bumble bees throughout reserve.

Peacock update:

Peachicks now have their "crowns".

My husband also visited the Reserve late afternoon today, 28th July and saw the Blackcap in the Rowans again (SC209694), Sedge Warbler (SC209694) + Swifts, House Martins, Swallows, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeons and usual Corvids flying over.

He also saw a Red Admiral & Wall Brown at SC209693

Thank you - to Gill & Steve for restocking the white board marks in the hide.