Ballachurry Reserve, 24th & 27th March 2017

A quick walk round the reserve on Friday afternoon when on my way home from Port Erin revealed the following:

Birds:

SC208694 ( compost corner) Wren; Goldfinch; Chiffchaff heard but not seen from different direction whilst seeing a Chiffchaff/ Willow Warbler.
SC208695 ( beehive loop) Wren; Goldfinch;
SC209694 ( gorse boundary) female Blackbird;
SC209694 ( path junction) 2 x Great Tit; Mallard flying over
SC209694 (from hide) 2 x Great Tit; Chiffchaff/Willow warbler; Magpie flying over; 2 x Mallard flying over

Other:

SC209694 ( gorse boundary) 1 Peacock butterfly flying; 2 x Small Tortoiseshell courtship.
     

Small Tortoiseshell butterflies courting

Then on Monday evening there was a site visit by Southern Group Committee members and a couple of volunteers to determine how best to proceed with various matters relating to the hide. I  arrived  20 minutes early in order to enjoy a walk round in the evening sunshine and noted the following:

SC209694 ( path junction) Goldcrest

SC209694 ( gorse boundary) Grey Heron perched on top of a hawthorn tree

SC209694 ( pond) Mallard

SC208694 ( near the reed bed) Robin; 2 x Great Tit; Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler

SC208694 ( near the dam) Stichwort in flower. I have not noticed it in this location in previous years so will take a closer look on my next recording visit.

An Urban Reserve?

When the Urban Birder visited the Reserve last September I was a little surprised to hear him describe Ballachurry as being in an urban environment. I had always thought of it as rather rural with its views of the hills and the surrounding pasture with grazing sheep. However, my last couple of visits have made me think again. Beautiful birdsong, yes, but periodically drowned out by aviation overhead, the bleep of reversing vehicles on the nearby building site, the steam train hooting, the bleep of crossing barriers coming down, gardeners making the most of the fine weather to get their grass cut with motor mowers and there seemed to be a proliferation of motorbikes along the road too. So yes, David, maybe you have a point!

Is it a bird? Is it a 'plane?