Ballachurry Reserve, 18th July 2017

Sizzling in the sunshine

18th July was a very warm July day at Ballachurry Reserve. My idea of high summer is perhaps of meadows buzzing with insect life, with swallows swooping overhead. So on Tuesday I was disappointed! I saw and heard very little - perhaps it was just too hot ! Here is a very short report:

Birds:

SC209694 Solitary Goldfinch
SC208694  1 Swift
SC209694 1 Swallow

Butterflies:

SC209693 ( parallel road)  Unidentified White flying
SC209694 (near hide) Unidentified White flying; Meadow Brown.
SC208694 ( near compost area) Meadow Brown; Unidentified White flying
SC208694 ( boardwalk) Meadow Brown
SC208695 (old beehive loop) Unidentified White flying; Meadow Brown.
SC209694 ( gorse boundary) Meadow Brown
SC209694 ( path junction) Meadow Brown

Ladybirds:

SC209694 3 x 7-spot Ladybirds on thistles

Other:

A few honey and bumble bees  mostly on Marsh Woundwort
SC208694 Hoverfly
SC210694 Common Wasp on the entrance gate taking wood for it's nest.
SC210694 Soldier Beetles throughout the Reserve, including this location

a stand of Marsh Woundwort

Colourful Reserve

Very relieved to see our turf roof has greened up again

This was wonderful species rich turf from Ballanette Reserve
kindly donated by Stuart Clague. Good to see it in flower already.

I'm often asked about these pink flowers near the stream -
it's Hemp Agrimony, very popular with wildlife
 and a native wild flower.

This hoverfly was keeping cool in the shade

One of three 7-spot Ladybirds in the thistles

Rowan berries ripening already

Soldier Beetle

These thistles will soon be providing food
for our local Goldfinches

 

Purple Loosestrife and Sneezewort look good together.

Purple Loosestrife  in the wild flower area

Whilst not wishing away our Manx Summer weather, I'm hoping for a fresher feel to the Reserve next week and perhaps more to report.