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.
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| Stinking Iris near the gate |
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| Magpie atop the firs |
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| Rather a tame robin |
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| January at Ballachurry Reserve, |
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| Water Rail heard ( but not seen) from these reeds |
Thanks to all visitors and volunteers for your support of the Reserve throughout 2016 and wishing you all happy wildlife watching for 2017.
