New Year's Eve
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| rather a bleak scene on a grey, cold morning. |
Positively my last visit to Ballachurry Reserve of the month, the year and the decade! It was extremely cold down there this morning and I was glad to head home for a bowl of hot soup after a couple of circuits and 35 minutes in the hide, hoping the Water Rail might put in an appearance or even a squeal. The Christmas Bird Race was short of a Water Rail so I thought there might just be a chance, given that I'd heard it on a couple of occasions in December. Not to be, but here is what I did see:
Birds:
SC208694 5 x Goldcrests picking over the compost heap together. I was watching two then suddenly realised there were 3 more behind me! Magpie heard but not seen;
SC209694 ( gorse boundary) Blue Tit; flock of about 30 Goldfinches flying over, of which 5 dropped down into a willow for a few minutes before moving into adjacent hedge where they were taking blackberry seeds; Robin; Blackbird; Wren; Jackdaws flying over; Herring gulls flying over;
Hen Harrier briefly over reserve.
SC209694 ( hide) Robin heard but not seen; 2 x Wens together; flock of Goldfinches flying over; Pheasant heard but not seen.
Other:
Gorse, Red Campion and Hogweed still in flower in places.
Orange algae ( or iron leachate?) where wet.
SC209693 Celandines in bud
Throughout reserve - Hemlock Water Dropwort showing new leaves
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| Blackbird |
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| 5 Goldfinches in the willow |
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| brief view of Hen Harrier |
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| one of five Goldcrests |
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| our barrows enjoying a well-earned rest! |
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| Celandines in bud |
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| gorse flowers brightening up the scene |
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| Hemlock Water Dropwort showing through |
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| looking back along the stream towards the pond |
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| and the other way towards the bridge |
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| a hint of blue in the sky which came to nought |
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| orange algae ( or iron leachate|?) in the ditch |
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| a final view or 2019 lack of postings partly due to loss of board pen! |
Some of you may be interested to compare this visit with that I made on 31st December 2018 (see list of years to right of opening page). I saw nearly double the number of bird species last year so today was disappointing in that respect. But seeing the Goldcrests and the Hen Harrier today was a great way to finish the year. I was also delighted to spot the celandines in bud - the promise of spring!
I wish you all a very Happy New Year and excellent natural history spotting during 2020.
Please click on photos to enlarge, although they are record shots only due to low light levels and a faulty camera!
