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| Possibly Ballachurry's most famous resident. |
We have been busy with visitors recently but managed a very quick late afternoon stroll round the reserve on 14th August when, as well as the usual Gorse Shieldbugs etc, we also saw the following:
SC209694 Water Rail
SC208694 2-spot Ladybird.
On Wednesday evening
(17th) I was able to return for a slightly longer visit, and was pleased to see the Water Rail yet again. The 2-spot Ladybird was still there. A second one appeared damaged.
Butterflies:
SC210694 Red Admiral +
some Red Admiral caterpillars in feeding cocoons on nettles.
SC210694 Speckled Wood
SC209693 Unidentified
White
SC209694 Red Admiral
Birds:
SC208694 Wren
SC209694 Water Rail
SC209694 Willow
Warblers/ Chiffchaffs seen from hide on Church boundary. Too far away for positive ID. The tree they were in does not look very healthy.
Flies:
SC208694 Rhingia
campestris hoverfly on Purple Loosestrife
SC209695 Noon Fly
Ladybirds:
SC208694 2 x
2-spot ladybirds on thistles
Shieldbugs:
SC208695 Various
instars of Hawthorn Shieldbugs + 1 adult on Rowan berries
SC208694 Various
instars of Gorse Shieldbugs on gorse + 2 x Adults
Other:
SC209694 Leaf hopper (or Froghopper?)
SC208695 Leaf hoppers/Froghoppers ( 2 species?)
SC209694 Unidentified
yellow snail.
SC208694 Common Wasp
SC208694 Half a white
eggshell cleared out from a nest - not sure what sort of bird.
SC210694 Unidentified
moth on nettles Pink Barred Sallow?
Hoping to get back to
regular reporting later next week.
If you wish to see the Water Rail I would say your best chance is between 5 and 7pm judging by the notes on the whiteboard in the hide. Please resist the temptation to go in front of the hide as this disturbs the wildlife and delays birds such as the Water Rail from emerging again - it's very shy!
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| 2-spot Ladybird, I think this is the same one as observed on 14th |
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| Plenty of aphids for dinner but this one appears damaged |
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| Discarded egg-shell |
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| Small yellow snail |
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| Noon Fly |
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| Early instar nymph of Hawthorn Shieldbug |
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| Later instar showing shoulder projections |
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| Adult Hawthorn Shieldbug - they feed on Rowan berries as well as Hawthorn |
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| Not sure about the distinction between Leafhoppers & Froghoppers these could be either or both |
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| There's a Red Admiral caterpillar feeding beneath this silk cocoon, I think. |
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| unidentified moth - taking advice |
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| Rhingia Campestris hoverfly, I think. |
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| Water Rail posing in the Willow Herb |
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| Water Rail heading back home |
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| I heard it before I saw it - makes a noise like a squealing pig! |
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| Quick dash across the water lilies |
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| Notice the length of its legs! |
