My report from a couple of leisurely circuits of Ballachurry Reserve on Wednesday afternoon in the September sunshine, which in sheltered spots was decidedly warm.
Birds:
SC209693 Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff - briefest of views
SC208694 Chiffchaff heard singing. Robin.
SC208694 Loud croaking just like a Raven coming from reed bed??? ( not frog like)
SC208695 Robin heard not seen
SC209694 ( hide) juvenile Moorhen preening in reeds; Grey Heron flying over low
Butterflies & Moths:
SC209694 ( path junction) Speckled Wood
SC209694 ( hide) Speckled Wood
SC208694 2 x Speckled Wood
SC208694 ( willows) 3 x Speckled Wood
SC208694 ( boardwalk) 2 x Speckled Wood
SC208694 ( brambly bend) 2 x Speckled Wood
SC208695 ( old beehive loop) Speckled Wood; Silver Y moth
SC209695 ( near Private Entrance) 2 x Speckled Wood
Ladybirds:
SC208694) 2 x 7-spot
SC208695 7-spot
SC209695 2 x 7-spot
SC209694 7 x 7-spots
Other:
SC209693 Spider - Metallina sp?
SC208694 various Hoverflies and flies
SC208694 Spider on Gorse
SC208694 what appeared to be juvenile Water Crickets ( much smaller than adults)
SC209695 Dagger Moth Caterpillar;
SC209695 Hawthorn Shieldbug
SC209695 Spider - Metallina sp?
SC209695 3 x Gorse Shieldbugs
SC209694 5 x Gorse Shieldbugs
SC210694 Spider on nettles - Metallina sp.?
SC208694 Noon Fly
SC210694 Jumping spider on wall - Salticus scenicus - Common Zebra Spider
SC210694 Grass Hoppers x 2 on wall
SC209694 large House Spider (Tegenaria sp.) + 2 dead spiders in same web ( suitors who got their timing wrong?)
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| 7-spot Ladybird - always worth checking out gorse bushes |
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| another 7-spot in the same gorse bush |
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| this one was in the brambles |
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| and this one on a thistle - spiky plants obviously afford some protection from predators |
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| an uncropped photo of a Ladybird - so easy to miss them . |
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| Spot the difference! |
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| Hazel catkins already and the first hint of autumn colours |
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| I think this is a Grey Dagger Moth caterpillar |
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| a closer view |
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| Gorse Shieldbug ( they are not always on gorse!) |
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| Adult Hawthorn Shieldbug...... |
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| .....and a very early instar of its progeny |
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| Speckled Woods everywhere again |
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| they seem to have done very well this year |
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| they particularly like the brambly areas |
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| Metellina species spider? |
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| and another enjoying lunch |
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| Tegenaria sp. ( Agelenidae family - Funnelweb spiders) a House Spider |
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| a tiny jumping spider on the wall near the gate Salticus scenicus -the Common Zebra Spider |
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| a closer view according to the distribution map this is the only Salticus spider we have here in the IOM |
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| another Metallina species? |
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| same spider, different angle couldn't get closer without breaking the web, which I didn't want to do |
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| not sure about this one - no web, but looks similar to the Mettalina species again |
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| The Zebra spider caught my attention but then I noticed the Field Grasshoppers nearby |
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| these are the ones that make the intermittent tst ........tst sound, rather than a continuous reeling stridulation |
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| a small Hoverfly - a male Episyrphus baleatus "The Marmalade Fly" |
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| Marmalade fly seen from a different angle |
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| and head on |
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| a different sort of fly - a soldier fly of the Sargus species |
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| I took some fascinating video of this one washing itself -see below it's a female Eristalis pertinax ( one of the drone fly species) It has pale "feet" on the front and middle legs. |
Unfortunately it seems I cannot get rid of this feature without upgrading and making a monthly payment!
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| another small one - a male Eupeodes corollae |
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| Forget the blackberries - can you see the Silver Y Moth? |
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| recently mown area - thank you Stan! |
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| just look at that clear, blue, cloudless sky! |
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| route back to the gate |
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| always nice to get a bouquet ! |
