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Mr. S.Claus kindly dropped by to lend a hand
at what must be a very busy time of year for him. |
A very big thank you to the dozen or so volunteers who did a mighty amount of raking and barrowing at today's Work Party. The good turn-out enabled us to get both recently cut areas done and we had finished by midday.
Being December, our refreshment break had a festive air with mince pies, Christmas cake and some hot ( non-alcoholic!) punch. The weather was not at all seasonal, however, with temperatures of 13 degrees feeling positively balmy!
A blue handled rake was left behind and a plain wooden handled rake went missing! If you find you have the wrong one could you please give Janet Thompson a ring on 428953 ( or email her on jthompson@manx.net ) and she will put you in contact with the other person concerned to do a swap.
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| Many rakes make light work |
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| Two of our regular volunteers |
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| This is clearly Santa's day job! |
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| Fodder for the reindeer perhaps? |
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| Pile it high! |
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| Going back for more |
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| Our ever growing pile of compost |
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| Only when piled up did we realise quite how much had been cut! |
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The compost heap will surely make a cosy winter
habitat for a variety of creatures |
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| Time for hot toddy! |
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| Winter warmer |
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| But then it's back to work |
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| This area was much easier |
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| and quickly finished |
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| Before raking |
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| After raking |
Just before leaving the Reserve I went to retrieve a notice pointing the way to the composting area. I found our large heap of rakings being thoroughly inspected by a variety of birds! A Chiffchaff was sitting on top of the pile and a Wren and Robin were going over it consistently. The surrounding trees were full of birds too - Goldfinches, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Goldcrest, Dunnock, and a small flock of Long Tailed Tits. I went back to the car to collect my "bird camera" and staked out the area for some time, but didn't manage any good shots as there were always branches and brambles in the way! SC208694
When emptying the barrows we had noticed several small Wolf Spiders amongst the grass & rushes and I imagine these and other insects were providing an unexpected easy feast for all these small birds. We also found a large frog.
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| The frog quickly found a new home |
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| This Long Tailed Tit flew off just as I pressed the shutter! |
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| Wren inspecting the compost |
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Robin doing likewise
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I dropped off some tools earlier in the morning on my way back from Port Erin and noted the following:
SC209694 ( pond) Mallard x 6; Great Tit; Moorhen; Blackbird;Water Rail heard but not seen.
SC209694 ( path junction) 7 x Long Tailed Tits flew right across the path in front of me and landed in the willows an arm's length away ( alas, no camera)
SC209694 ( gorse boundary) glimpse of unidentified thrush
SC209695 ( orchard entrance) Blackbird
SC208695 ( old beehive loop) Great Tit.
Magpie and Kestrel flying over.
Once more, very many thanks to all our volunteers whose hard work makes Ballachurry Reserve the wonderful wildlife haven it has become.
