Ballachurry Reserve, 7th April 2020

along the gorse boundary

I'm  12 days late posting this account of my "permitted exercise" trip to Ballachurry, but better late than never. I no longer go into the hide for fear of touching the door and shutters etc but here is what I noted as I walked round:

Birds:

SC210694  2 x Chaffinch
SC209693 Willow Warbler heard but not seen; male Blackbird
SC209694 Moorhen in reeds;  Woodpigeon; Chiffchaff; Blue Tit; Goldcrest
SC208694 Blue Tit; Chiffchaff; Great Tit; Goldfinch; male Blackcap;male Chaffinch
SC208695 Goldfinch

Other:

SC210694  2 x  Small Tortoiseshell butterflies
SC209695 about a dozen Water Crickets in the stream
SC209694 4 x Gorse Shieldbugs in gorse
SC208694 Hoverflies on Marsh Marigolds.
SC209695 7-spot Ladybird
SC209694 7-spot Ladybird
SC208694 Lesser Stitchwort in full bloom
SC209694 Bumble Bee in willows ( possibly White Tailed?)
SC210  garden escape Spanish Bluebells  and Daffodils in bloom

peeping through the willows at the pond

Small Tortoiseshell

Blackbird

Busy Bumble ( White tailed or Buff?) 

almost missed this 7-spot ladybird
can you see it?

this one was easier to spot

Gorse Shieldbug

Hoverfly ( Eristalis pertinax)

and a Honeybee

all the insects are loving the pussy willow flowers

Lesser Stitchwort

Spanish bluebells near the gate

garden escape daffodils by the gate

Rowan coming into flower

suddenly spotted this little Sycamore seedling

a sunny bank of Celandines

I fear these may be the marks of Ash Die Back

a lovely day for a blow of fresh air.

please click on the photos to enlarge them

Ballachurry Reserve, 30th & 31st March 2020

   Sadly the arrival of Corvid19 virus on the Island is affecting residents in many ways. My thoughts are with those who have the illness and with their relatives and friends.

"permitted exercise" is essential for mental
 as well as physical health - birdsong, blue sky and
yellow flowers work wonders!

I am fortunate to have Ballachurry Reserve practically on my doorstep. Although I can no longer do full recording sessions there, for my "permitted exercise" on Tuesday I
enjoyed  a brief circuit of the reserve and noted the following:

Birds:

SC210694 male Chaffinch
SC209693 male Blackbird
SC209694 Chiffchaff; Chaffinch;  drake Mallard;
SC208694 Great Tit; Chiffchaff;
SC208695 Goldfinch

Other:

SC209694 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly.; 7 x Gorse Shieldbugs including mating pair.
SC209694 7-spot ladybird in gorse.
SC208695 7-spot ladybird in grass.

Later in the day I realised I had lost my camera case with spare battery. I retraced my steps round the reserve  next day, thinking I must have dropped it there but failed to find it. Perhaps it will turn up at home eventually. Here is what I noted as I walked round looking for it.

Birds:

SC208694: Chiffchaff; Great Tit; Chaffinch;
SC210694: Chaffinch
SC209694 Blackbird; Blue Tit; 2 x Goldfinch; 2 x Song Thrush; male  Chaffinch.
SC208695 Goldcrest

Other:

SC210694 Small Tortoiseshell
SC208694 Small Tortoiseshell
SC208694 Stitchwort coming into flower
SC209695 female Eristalis pertinax
SC209694 male Eristalis pertinax

Marsh Marigolds - yellow is such a cheerful
colour!

Hey! What about social distancing?
Gorse Shieldbugs

that's better!

another Gorse Shieldbug

one in close-up

some of the daffs are going over now

but others are still flowering
yellow is such an attractive colour to insects too

 male Eristalis pertinaxHoverfly

female Eristalis pertinax

Honeybee

SC209695   female Eristalis Hoverfly with primroses

I remember planting these Marsh Marigolds
during a work party a few years ago.
Very satisfying to see them bulk up year on year

7-spot Ladybird in the grass at my feet

and another in the gorse

Stitchwort coming into flower

Hawthorns now in full leaf, blossom next?

(please click on photos to enlarge them)

I'm hoping to add a few non-Ballachurry posts to this Blog while  C19 persists. I have some ideas for things you can do in your own gardens to pass the time. Watch this space.