Ballachurry Reserve, 27th January, 2017.

So pleased to see this Teal at Ballachurry Reserve.

What did  I say about being in "the right place at the right time" ? Well, that is exactly where I was on Friday afternoon, while waiting for Tim Graham and Tricia Sayle to arrive at the Reserve ( see previous post). It was pouring hard with rain so I had taken refuge in the bird Hide. I put up the shutters and was surprised to see a male Teal sitting in the rushes right opposite me. I sometimes manage to inadvertently put up Teal from the pond when I first arrive on site so this was a real treat to  be able to sit and observe this handsome fellow. The best view of Teal I have had at Ballachurry, in fact.

 At first it didn't seem to be doing much - surely it couldn't be a decoy duck? After all, we had ceramic puffins on the Calf last year. Was the ploy being extended? But no, eventually it turned round and swam to the right, across the pond, to the weedy area where it started feeding. But suddenly there was some drama as a female Sparrowhawk swooped upon it but missed! The Teal  got wind of it at the last minute, I think, and flew up a couple of feet causing the Sparrowhawk to abort its attack and fly up sharply at 45 degrees. Surprisingly the Teal didn't fly away but swam sedately back to its original place in the reeds where it smoothed its ruffled feathers with a prolonged preening session.

Eventually over its fright, the Teal swam off to the left and paused a short while before flying off  but then came down just a little way off in the vegetation where I lost it from view.

I am resolved to visit the reserve in the rain more often - I am clearly missing an awful lot by being a fair weather recorder!

unsuspecting Teal

but  clearly I was not the only creature watching it!
I took this photo mere seconds before it was attacked.

I also took some video of the Teal. I missed the dramatic moment with the Sparrowhawk unfortunately - what a great shot that would have made. When time permits I'll put the movie on  the Blog too.

Ballachurry Reserve, 25th January, 2017

Almost a week late posting this report! I have been busy with other Ballachurry business - firstly, an afternoon spent walking round the Reserve with Manx Wildlife Trust's C.E.O., Tim Graham, and Reserves Officer, Tricia Sayle, who are developing a new Management Plan for the Reserve. This was followed next day by our Working Party, an account of which is already posted. Then, Monday night we had a Southern MWT Committee meeting to discuss Ballachurry and other matters.

So here at last is the report for Wednesday 25th January.

A bright splash on a cold January day

Although the temperature was in double figures on Wednesday - 10C - the wind chill made it feel much colder. Most of the bird life at Ballachurry seemed to be keeping warm down in the undergrowth or else was away on bird feeders in local gardens. Either way, there was little to be seen. Once I opened the shutters in the Hide a strong icy wind blew straight in, making me put up my hood and after half an hour I needed to walk round the reserve again to warm up! Two half hour sessions in the hide and two half hour circuits of the Reserve produced  a very paltry list!

Birds:

SC209694 ( from Hide)  6 x Wood Pigeon; Blackbird; Pheasant; Wren;  5 x Goldfinch
SC208695 Robin
SC208694 Hooded Crow; Wren, heard but not seen.
SC209694 ( willows ) Blue Tit; Wood Pigeon;
SC209695 Robin.
SC209694 a few corvids and Herring Gulls flying over.

I mostly had quick glimpses of the above so this post is not strong on photos, I'm afraid. It was not all doom and gloom however, the Celandines are starting to flower and Gorse is still making a bright splash. In sheltered spots the Hawthorns are in leaf already.

Other:

SC210694 Celandine in flower
SC208694 Gorse in flower
SC210694  Hibernating garden snails still in situ
SC209694  Still a few fungi in the wood chip path
SC208694 & SC209694 Hawthorn bud burst
SC210694 Ivy berries now  ripe and black.
SC208694 Blackthorn twigs have bright yellow lichen
SC209693 Hazels a long the pathway have had catkins for some time now.

A somewhat gloomy outlook from the Hide

Wood Pigeons intent on preening

Hawthorn sapling already in leaf

Blackthorn ( the one covered in caterpillar webs last year),
developing a coating of Lichen

Hazel catkins

Hibernating snails seem not to have budged

Do you remember  my photo of this view on a sunny day
 with the reeds looking golden?

Ripening ivy berries will provide welcome food
for birds over the next few weeks

Not so many fungi now

Our first Celandine - what a cheerful treat!

In my last recording post I said things could only get better. I received a call next day from a regular visitor to the Reserve to say he had seen 2 Snipe, 2 Tree Creepers and 2 Waxwings just 24 hours after my own visit! It just goes to show that it is a question of being in the right place at the right time. The notice board in the Hide also records a sighting of the Water Rail on 22nd January - good to know it is still about.

Ballachurry Reserve, First Work Party of 2017.

A big thank you to the dozen volunteers who donned their waterproofs today ( 28th January) and braved the rain to make a start on maintenance tasks for 2017. The rain was not heavy, there was no wind, and temperatures were reasonable for January, so working conditions were not too bad at all.

Main task of the morning was to cut back the vegetation, mostly rushes, along the stream banks until we could finally see some water again! With plenty of conversation as we worked (lots to catch up on since Christmas) the time flew by and the job was pretty much done by break time. Right on cue as we downed tools, it stopped raining and the sun came out! The Baking Sub-Committee had done us proud as usual (many thanks, ladies) and we had a very pleasant picnic in the sunshine. At this point we were unexpectedly joined by Press Photographer, Mike Wade, who took photos of us enjoying our refreshments and even did a little quality control  himself.

Then it was back to work. A variety of tasks this time, trimming back the willows, removing some self sown saplings growing in the wrong place, removing redundant tree guards which had served their purpose, and packing extra timber round a few wooden features that were threatening to wobble. We had a grand clear up of the site, especially near the hide, and there was a chance to discuss the best way of dealing with a few future tasks. Mike took further photos of us at work, just to prove that we don't just picnic, and I took photos of him taking the photos, just to prove that he works too! Do look out for us all in the local press next week.

The sun continued to shine, the Robins cheered us on ( SC208694 & SC208695), I saw a Snipe (SC209694), and even spotted a caterpillar (SC209695).

Grubby, but satisfied with a good morning's work, we all headed homewards for a well-deserved lunch.

Thanks again, folks. Your cheerful hard work is much appreciated.

Thanks too to Mike Wade who so often captures Manx Wildlife Trust activities.

Making a start

Making progress

Job done

Tea Break and a big improvement

Welcome, Mike.

Coffee, cake and a joke perhaps?

A well-deserved cuppa

January picnic

Trimming the willows

Back to work for all concerned.

By the way, I was at the Reserve a couple of times earlier in the week and hope to post the report and pictures soon.

Work Party update

Today's work party is going ahead.

 At least, the Committee are going along, in wet weather gear! Other volunteers may make their own decisions!  We'll be starting work in the rain but it's forecast to stop mid morning. If conditions worsen and it becomes unpleasant we'll give up gracefully.

Must dash!

Work Party update - 28th January 2017

Just a minor update for those hoping to come to the Work Party on Saturday. I have walked round the Reserve today with Tim Graham ( CEO) and Tricia Sayle ( Reserves Officer) from the Manx Wildlife Trust. During this walk we decided to cut back both sides of stream between the ponds but do minimal work on the dry ditch. We'll be doing some minor trimming back on some of the willows, so a selection of saws might be useful. If anyone has a mattock with a stout handle we need one for tamping down soil round some of our wooden structures which have become wobbly. Some maintenance on a few trees also intended + cutting back vegetation near the boardwalk.

Extra sheers, loppers, secateurs, spades/forks always welcome. Don't forget your wellies, waterproof gloves for stream work, tougher stuff for brambles.

Tonight they are saying that early morning rain will clear by mid morning, so hopefully the Work Party can go ahead as planned. Do check the Blog or ring Janet if this seems to have changed significantly by morning.

 See you there!

Ballachurry Reserve - Work Party Reminder

Just a reminder that, weather permitting, we have our first Work Party of 2017 this coming Saturday, 28th January. 10 till 1 as usual or whatever you can manage. A slight change in tasks, as priority will be to clear the far bank of the stream that runs between the two ponds. We are not allowed to dredge out any silt at this time of year but can clear/cut back the vegetation that has fallen into the water. Waterproof gloves essential for this task. Marigolds over something warmer work quite well, I find! Don't forget your wellies!

If numbers permit we'll also finish the dry ditch as described in the earlier post. If you are looking for something a little less energetic we still need to paint the new struts inside the hide.

Refreshments at half time as usual. Do hope to see you there - new volunteers always welcome.

(If weather looks uncertain please check the Blog before setting out or ring Janet on 428953)

Ballachurry Reserve, 15th January 2017.

Late afternoon at Ballachurry Reserve

Today's visit to Ballachurry Reserve wasn't really planned, but when the sun came out and I found myself nearby this afternoon, I decided to go and check on a couple of things ahead of the forthcoming Work Party.

The sunshine didn't last long but I jotted down a few sightings before leaving at about  4 o'clock.

Birds:
SC209694 ( from the hide) Pheasant, male.
SC208694 ( path through the willows) 2 x Blue Tit; 2 x Great Tit; Goldcrest; Chaffinch.
SC208694 ( near the boardwalk) 2 x Robin, heard but only one seen fleetingly in fading light.
SC209694  ( central area) Snipe
Usual Corvids and Herring Gulls flying over.

Other:

SC209694 The  Robin box has blown out of the tree. When I picked it up to remove for safe keeping I noticed about 20 + tiny black insects on the back. Notice nail head in photo for scale. I don't yet know what they are but I think they will be a new record for the Reserve.

SC209693 Two pieces of dead wood lying in undergrowth. They may be from the Elderberry near the gate, but I'm not sure how they have got to this spot. Interesting insect bore holes in the wood + some interesting lichen too.

Good to see a nest in the fork of one of the hawthorn saplings, now the vegetation is dying down.

So not a great tally for this visit - things can only get better!

Insect bore holes + lichen on small dead branch

Close-up of lichen

One of 20 or more tiny black insects on the Robin box

All the birds in the willows were silhouetted against the light.
I've had to lighten this photo to see it at all! Blue Tit.

This Great Tit was easier to see/photograph on the opposite
side of the path.

Quite a large nest - a blackbird perhaps?

Ballachurry Reserve - Next Work Party

We are hoping to hold our first Work Party of  2017 on Saturday, 28th January between 10.00 & 13.00 Refreshments at half time, as usual. Please wear stout footwear and working gloves. Loppers, secateurs and shears may come in handy, as we need to finish clearing the boundary ditch, a task we started in the autumn.

 We shall also be checking our saplings, making sure they are still well-staked after recent gales and cutting back excess vegetation/brambles at their base.

Should we have a dry spell of weather between now and the work party ( ha, ha)  during which we can do some strimming, then the task may change to raking off. We'll let you know if this is the case so rakes can be brought along too.

With thanks in anticipation - hope to see you there.

Ballachurry Reserve, 9th January, 2017.

I arrived at Ballachurry Reserve today just after mid-day and stayed nearly a couple of hours, including about half an hour in the bird hide. Despite the bright sunshine there was a chilly wind and the reserve seemed very quiet.

Birds:

SC208694 Two male and one female Chaffinch; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Blackbird; Robin.
SC208695 Robin; Great Tit.
SC209695 Blue Tit; Great Tit ( both looking inside nest box for  insects)
SC209694 Robin
SC209694 ( from Hide)  Great Tit x 2; Blue Tit; Grey Heron; Rook.
A few Herring gulls and corvids flying over.

Other:

 SC210694  Two hibernating Garden snails in the wall
SC209694   Small yellow snail in gorse
SC209694   Gorse Shield Bugs x 5
SC208694    Orange fungus on boardwalk
SC208695   Jelly Ear fungus starting to appear on dead branch of overhanging tree.
SC208694   Hogweed plant in full flower
SC210694   Still a few Ox-eye daisies flowering under the Notice Board.
SC209694  Hemlock Water Dropwort coming back strongly along stream bank.

Hemlock Water Dropwort

Orange fungi ( or possibly a slime mould?)

Hibernating Garden Snail

Another hibernating Garden Snail

Gorse Shieldbug brought out by the sunshine

Blue Tit near Hide

Close-up of the same Blue Tit

 Some early nectar - Hogweed

Jelly Ear fungi

Prospecting for insects

Ox-eye Daisies

A small, yellow, hibernating snail.

A blue sky day. 9C but feeling colder in the strong wind.

Ballachurry Reserve, 2nd January, 2017. Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

And Happy 1st Birthday, Blog!

I began the Ballachurry Blog in January 2016 ( although I had posted all the reports for 2015 retrospectively a few days earlier).

With mostly sunny skies forecast for today it seemed like a good time for my first visit of the year to the Reserve. Sunshine did not equal warmth though, as a chill wind was blowing. Bright sunshine combined with dark clouds out to the west produced some stormy lighting effects and at one point there were even a few spots of rain. The Robin which holds the territory close to the fir trees soon came down to wish me a Happy New Year - we are now old friends! Without him ( or her) I would have few bird photos to add to the Blog today. Here is a rather short tally:

Birds:
SC209694 ( from the Hide) Blackbird; female Chaffinch; Great Tit; Wood Pigeon.
SC208694  ( near the firs) Robin; Blackbird; female Chaffinch; Magpie.
SC208695 ( old beehive loop)  Wren; Great Tit x 2; Bluetit;
SC209695 ( orchard entrance) Robin; Magpie
SC209693 ( reeds near road) Water Rail heard but not seen.
Usual corvids and Herring gulls flying over.

Other:
SC210694 Stinking Iris seed heads making a bright splash.
SC208694 Still fungi in the woodchip.

Stinking Iris near the gate

Magpie atop the firs

Rather a tame robin 

January at Ballachurry Reserve,

Water Rail heard ( but not seen) from these reeds

We hope to announce the date of the next Work Party soon, by the way.

Thanks to all visitors and volunteers for your support of the Reserve throughout 2016 and wishing you all happy wildlife watching for 2017.