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| Long lenses at the ready |
I have been down to
Ballachurry Reserve on a couple of occasions recently to do some cutting back
of nettles and brambles etc.from the paths , so there are some incidental
records, but on Tuesday I did my recording visit so here are the records for all
3 dates:
20th September -
Common Darter. SC208694
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| Common Darter Dragonfly sunning itself on a stone. |
27th September
BIrds: SC209693 Water
Rail heard from reeds at same time as another was calling from pond area
SC209694 Water Rail both heard and seen
SC209694 Juvenile Moorhen
SC209694 Robin
SC209695 Dunnock
SC209694 5 x Jackdaw
Flying over: Magpie, Herring Gulls, Wood Pigeons.
Butterflies: SC209695
Red Admiral
Caterpillars: SC209693
2 x Buff Tip Moth caterpillars on separate Hazel trees.
Flies: SC209695
Marmalade Hoverfly
SC210694 Noon Fly on dead Elder branch
Fungus: SC209695
Unidentified brown toadstool
Shieldbugs: SC208694
Just one Gorse Shieldbug seen
SC209695 Just one Hawthorn Shieldbug
nymph found
Other: SC210694
several common earwigs on noticeboard
SC210694 small spider on noticeboard
SC209693 Hazels have catkins
SC209694 Alders have catkins
SC209694 Alder is heavily laden with cones
SC208694 The solitary sloe is ripening on the Blackthorn
SC208694 One or two new Hogweed plants flowering
SC209695 Oak saplings have Spangle Galls on underside of
leaves - a little research suggests these are caused by gall wasp
Neuroterus
quercusbaccarum. They do not affect the health of the
tree.
SC209694 Yellow Snail
The Reserve was
noticeably quiet with less insect life than usual. It was lovely to see a succession of visitors during the afternoon, all hoping to see our Water Rails. Most were lucky, making their trips from Foxdale and Laxey worthwhile.
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| Hoping for a sight of the Water Rail ( taken with visitors' permission) |
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| No - it's "only" a juvenile Moorhen! |
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| Patience rewarded! It's a Water Rail! |
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| Robin near the pond |
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| Common Earwig |
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| Small unidentified spider |
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| Noon Fly |
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| Alder laden with cones - contain food for our bird life. |
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| Buff Tip Moth Caterpillar |
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| Buff Tip Moth caterpillar |
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| Solitary Sloe now ripening |
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| Hawthorn Shieldbug nymph on Rowan berries |
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| Spangle Galls on underside of Oak leaf |
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| Unidentified fungus |
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| Unidentified yellow snail |
28th September:
SC210694 2 x Crane Flies on wooden bridge ( different from the usual ones seen)
SC210694 Peregrine Falcon flying over chasing flock of small birds. Flew off over Ballakilley. ( Thanks to Brian Liggins for alerting me to the
SC209694 Blue
tit.
SC209694
Water Rail heard but not seen.
Notes: Birder/Photographer Brian had chosen to spend part of his lunch break at the reserve in the hopes of
seeing a Water Rail. Just as he left another gentleman arrived, also hoping to
see a Water Rail! It's certainly become a local celebrity!
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| "Daddy Long Legs" |
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| Autumnal look to the Reserve |
