Ballachurry Reserve, 30th October 2020

View along the gorse boundary

  I visited the Reserve on Friday on my way home from having lunch with friends so it was around 1.30 when I arrived. I had with me a trug full of small logs to add to the log pile, so that was my first job before walking round to observe the wildlife. Early afternoon seems to be siesta time for birds and I was beginning to think that I would have nothing to report this week other than a dozing Ladybird and a couple of flies but as the afternoon wore on things improved.In the meantime I had spotted quite a lot of new fungi under the trees, so had plenty to keep me occupied. Here is the full report:

Birds:

SC209694 ( hide) Woodpigeon; female Chaffinch; Robin; Wren; 2 x Blackbird; Song Thrush; 2 x Bluetit (one ringed); 3 x Goldfinch; Water Rail calling for about 5 minutes but not seen.

SC209694 ( elsewhere, same grid reference) Bluetit; 2 Swallows flying over;

SC209695 juvenile Blackbird

SC208694  Robin heard not seen

Ladybirds:

SC209694 I checked out the Marsh Woundwort where 2 were  together in a leaf last week. The plant is going over but one 7-spot was well tucked into the gorse nearby.

Flies:

SC209695 The Cushag ( Ragwort ) was providing late nectar for a couple of Hoverflies  ( Melanostoma or Platycheirus species  and Episyrphus balteatus )

Fungi: 

Thanks to Karen & Mick Rodger for identifying the fungi  at SC208695 as Deceivers last week and to Liz Charter for naming the odd formation in the middle of the cap as Rosecomb mutation. There are still plenty of them to be seen.  There are new cream coloured fungi coming up adjacent to them. These have white spore prints and also produced some small maggots!

SC208694  Various new types of fungi  under the willows all with brown spore prints.

Other:

SC208695 Anthrophila fabricana Moth on Cushag/ Ragwort  Also known as Nettle-tap moth. Nettles are its caterpillar food plant.

Bluetits were enjoying the rosehips

They are certainly acrobatic birds

This one was ringed

Robin seen from hide

the Thrush took its time, slowly moving closer to the Rosehips

it seemed very cautious

another view of the same bird

 one of three Goldfinches

the same bird

Anthrophila fabricana Moth ( Nettle-tap Moth)

 Marsh Woundwort losing its leaves

took me a while to see where the 7-spot had taken refuge

 Melanostoma or Platycheirus  species Hoverfly

Episyrphus balteatus Hoverfly

 there are still lots of Deceiver fungi with the Rosecomb mutation

 I spotted these under the willows ( brown spore print)

along with these ( brown spore print)

and this one ( also brown print)

these frilly ones almost looked like flowers

these have appeared close to the Deceivers

They have an Umbo ( bump) in the middle and gave a white spore print

 colourful Oak leaves

Imagine this Oak in 100 years time!

Colourful birch too

Roof greening up nicely ( not Astroturf - honest!)

I'm glad I was able to call in ahead of Saturday's storm for a sunny walk round.  Last visit for October.

With thanks to Steve Crellin for Fly identifications and Ian Scott for Moth.

Please click on photos to enlarge them

Ballachurry Reserve, 21st October 2020.

not the sunniest of days

 How things can change in a week! Last week I saw only a couple of birds but several insects. This week I saw only a few insects but a good selection of birds!Here is the list:

Birds:

SC209694 (from the hide) male and juvenile Blackbirds; Robin; 3 x Redwing; 2 x Chaffinch; female Reed Bunting; 10+ Wood pigeon;  Goldcrest; Chiffchaff. Small flock of Goldfinch flying over;large flock of unidentified winter thrushes flying over; Wren heard but not seen.

SC209694 ( elsewhere) Robins in three other locations, same grid reference.

SC208694 Great Tit; Robin + another heard nearby; Chaffinch heard but not seen

SC209695 5 x Woodpigeon; Chiffchaff; 2 x Blackbirds flying over

Fungi:

 SC210694 small cream toadstools just inside entrance gate

SC209694 Redhead Roundhead fungi in underlying woodchip on paths + 1 decaying Inkcap

SC208695 large patch of fungi near area of fallen willow. Strange "cauliflower" structure in middle of many of them. Seeking ID. May be "Deceivers"

Ladybirds:

SC209694 just one 7-spot seen on Marsh Woundwort.

Other:

SC209694 Oak Spangle galls on oaks along gorse boundary path

SC208695 Yellow Dung Fly

SC208695 variety of unknown aphids  and a Syrphus species Hoverfly larva on underside of Sycamore leaves

SC209694 unidentified  Muscid fly on Cushag ( Ragwort)

Chiffchaff ( with thanks to Aron Sapford and Brian Kelly for confirming ID)

male Blackbird across the pond

and a juvenile too

almost missed the Goldcrest it was so small

female Reed Bunting

another view

one of three Redwings

they were eating blackberries I think

still a few tasty berries left for them

 Robin in the hawthorn bush

they seemed to be in all parts of the Reserve

always interesting to see what other people have seen

 about a quarter of the pigeon flock

Interesting fungi

 with a strange "cauliflower" projection on top

and beautiful gills beneath

 this ink cap had seen better days

lots of these coming through on the wood chip

Redlead Roundhead ( with thanks to Karen and Mick Rodger for ID)

 this 7-spot has been living on this Marsh Woundwort for some time

unidentified  Muscid fly on Ragwort ( Cushag)

and a Yellow Dung fly on bracken

always worth checking the underside of leaves

 A couple of unidentified aphids and a Syrphus species Hoverfly larva

autumn colours along the back of the meadow area

the Blackthorn is very colourful this year

as are the young Oaks

 Oak Spangle Galls

 view through the hide shutters

and from the hide ramp

lawn daisies seem to flower all year round

a different view of the meadow

 approaching the hide

 roof greening up nicely

along the gorse boundary

 also the gorse boundary path

 

inside noticeboard on Coffee Morning poster!

 

In an earlier post I said I thought a Woodpigeon was nesting in the Hawthorn near the hide. With leaves off the trees this nest is now visible.

An interesting morning despite the gloomy weather.

INCIDENTAL RECORDS 

I have briefly called back at the reserve on 22nd and 24th October and noted the following

 

 another view of the strange fungus

 Fungi near the entrance area

 

Hooded Crow near the Noticeboard

Hoodie with friend

Hooded and Carrion Crows - not often seen on the ground at the Reserve

the ladybird on the Marsh Woundwort has found a bedfellow

Please click on photos to enlarge