Ballachurry Reserve, Open Afternoon, 31st August 2019.

a lowering sky and a windy start to the day

Everyone involved in the  planning of the Open Afternoon at Ballachurry spent an anxious week watching the weather forecast for Saturday 31st August.  With gales and rain forecast the omens were not at all good for a successful event. As the day drew nearer the forecast improved - the afternoon would be dry and even sunny at times but the morning, when we would be setting up, was still going to be wet and extremely windy.  Could we get our 2 tents up in near gale force winds? Fortunately the wind was abating  somewhat when we convened on site at 10 o'clock, as was the drizzle, and by lunchtime all was in place and safely pegged down.

The sun came out beautifully as people began to arrive and apart from one  short, sharp shower when we all took refuge in the tents, we enjoyed a perfect afternoon.

Inside the tents and spread around the reserve we had individuals and groups representing all kinds of wildlife: The Manx Bat Group; The Manx Fungus Group; Manx Butterfly Conservation; Moths; Wild Flowers; Birds/Swifts; Bee-Keepers; Spiders; Flies. The Manx Wildlife Trust was represented by the Southern Group Committee who, helped by our volunteers, had organised the event. The Trust's Education Officer, Dawn Dickens, led a Bug Hunt for children which was very popular as always and some interesting invertebrates were found. The Island's Dipterist, Steve Crellin, caught a number of examples of flies to show the public and one of these proved to be not only a new record for the Reserve but also for the Island! It's also likely to be the most northerly example for the UK! It's not the prettiest of the Reserve's flies but is nevertheless one we should be proud of!

One tent was entirely devoted to Wildlife Photography with an exhibition by various photographers of wildlife  from the reserve. They kindly brought along their cameras and lenses too and were happy to talk about this and techniques for success. The winning entries & runners-up of the children's photographic competition were also on display and prizes of gift vouchers for the wildlife shop and fold-out guides to rocky shores went to the lucky children.

We had hoped this event would raise the profile of the marvellous wildlife on our Island, provoke interest and possibly increase the number people helping to record it. We also hoped to engage with the younger generation.  I think all these objectives were achieved. What we had not really anticipated was the enjoyment of all the participating wildlife experts in meeting together in an informal and relaxed atmosphere to chat and share their enthusiasm for wildlife in general. The same was true for the photographers who also enjoyed the get-together, admiring each other's work and exchanging views on photographic equipment.

Unfortunately I didn't manage to photograph all our participants - the afternoon flew by all too quickly - but I hope the following pictures give a flavour of the event.

The Manx Bat Group even have their own gazebo!
Lots of information about bats, bat detecting and bat walks.

Our wildflowers were even colour co-ordinated
with the wildflower expert there to lead the tour!

Liz Charter talks about Purple Loosestrife

which is starting to colonise the damp meadow

 The damp meadow is cut once a year in autumn
then raked off by volunteers in order to reduce the soil fertility.
This should gradually encourage the growth of wild
flowers over course grasses. As a former arable field we have a
way to go yet. 

"and here's one I caught earlier"
Spider expert, Kate Hawkins, with examples of spiders
living on the Reserve

Garry Curtis of Manx Butterfly Conservation had plenty
of butterfly species fluttering round the Reserve
 to show visitors.

The Fungus Group had a marvellous display as well as details of how
to join the group and participate in their frequent forays

on display were these  Blueing Brackets
 recently found on the Reserve

underside of the tiny brackets

Ian Scott is the Island's Moth Recorder, seen here with
 a moth trap and some live moths caught the previous evening

Preaching to the converted!
Janet Thompson (right) talks birds and in particular Swifts
with licensed Bird Ringer, Louise Sampson.

Roll up! Roll up!

Manx Wildlife Trust's Education Officer, Dawn Dickens.

Already a familiar figure with many local children, Dawn  always
inspires great enthusiasm for mini beasts

one of Ballachurry's larger beetles
Carabus granulatus

Ben & Tom, on holiday here from Belfast, had
each found a 7-spot Ladybird. I showed them
how to report their finds to the
 National Biodiversity Network using  my
 Smartphone Ladybird App. The records will  have the boys'
names associated with them for posterity! 

they also found Shieldbugs

7-spot Ladybird

Gorse Shieldbug

other finds during the afternoon included this Hoverfly
Syritta pipiens

Sienna became particularly attached
to her Forest Bug

which she named Spot.
The feelings seemed mutual and Spot was reluctant to say goodbye!
He ( or she?) was eventually persuaded to return to an Oak tree
before Sienna went home.

plenty of things to see at the Bug Hunt station

the larva of a Thistle Tortoise Beetle

and a solitary wasp - Ectemnius sp.

no one seemed quite sure exactly what this was
a new record for the reserve though
latest consensus is a leech

Steve| Crellin, the Island's Fly Recorder,  encourages a
specimen to fly away home at the end of the afternoon

Over 60 Wildlife photos were on display in the second tent

cameras and lenses on display with the Children's
winning photos in the background
Sylvia Constantine and Mike Howland talk techniques

Mick Coupe with some of his wildlife photos

and Mike Howland  with some of his too

Steve Johnstone, a frequent photographer at the Reserve
and a valued work party volunteer too.

excitement mounts as the raffle is about to be drawn

a quick look at the prizes

and a ticket is drawn

Oh yes - I promised to let you know the outcome of the hedgehog tunnels too. Well, one of the tunnels was not used at all. One had prints from a local cat but the third had footprints from an adult hedgehog all of which you can see below. The Wildlife Trust would love more information about the distribution of hedgehogs on the Island, so if you would like to help with the Manx Gardens Hedgehog Footprint Tunnel Survey please contact Dawn Dickens on education@manxwt.org.uk There is a footprint guide so you can see whether your tunnel is also being visited by other small mammals or even by frogs!

Hedgehog footprints from the tunnel near our compost heaps

and more from the same tunnel

these are from a cat

a sunny and relaxed end to the day

A huge, huge thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to the success of this event, which seems to have been much enjoyed by children and adults alike.

Thanks too to the local press who sent a photographer to capture the moment and gave the event an excellent write-up in the following Tuesday's Examiner.

As always, click on the photos to enlarge them.