Ballachurry Reserve, 17th February 2021.

a slightly different view of the pond - but no frogspawn

 

On the basis of the weather forecast I had penciled in a visit to Ballachurry Reserve for Wednesday 17th February. With hindsight I should have gone the day before, which was a delightful spring day, but Wednesday looked equally promising as I set out. We had frogspawn in our garden pond on Tuesday and I hoped to spot some at Ballachurry likewise. Just through the gate I noticed a clump of snowdrops, choked by grass and emerging nettles and stopped to give them their freedom, getting stung in the process, but it was worth it to see a few dainty, drooping heads just touched with the faintest of green. The rest of the buds should open shortly.

Next I headed for the log pile as I had a trug of branches and logs with me. I am steadily adding to the pile as suitable material becomes available and this should become a valuable habitat for both invertebrates and fungi.

 Somewhere between the snowdrops and the log pile the sun went in!

 The rest of the morning remained very grey with a watery sun trying unsuccessfully to break through from time to time. Only as I decided to head for home did the sun emerge again and the sky turn blue. How annoying! I did one quick extra circuit of the reserve just to enjoy the sunshine. Here is what I recorded:

Birds:

SC210694  male & female  Blackbirds; Goldfinch; Blue Tit; 

SC209694 ( from hide) distant view of Snipe flying off; flock of  20 + Goldfinches; 3 x Woodpigeon; Chaffinch; Redwing;  Blackbird; Magpie;Great Tit.

SC209694 ( elsewhere) 2 Chaffinch heard not seen "talking " to each other; ( & 1 Chaffinch seen elsewhere) Great Tit; Jack Snipe; Song Thrush;  5 x Goldfinch

SC208694 Blue Tit; 3 x male Chaffinch; Goldfinch;  2 x Great Tit; male Blackbird; female Chaffinch;

SC209695 Blue Tit

Other:

SC209694 Celandines; Dandelion. 

SC209693 Hazel catkins.

 SC210694  Snowdrops ( garden escape)

SC209694 I scanned the pond with binoculars  but couldn't spot any frogspawn

 

Snowdrops near the gate

the growing log pile

best the sun could do

 

female chaffinch

and a male

Blue Tit near the compost heap

another in the distance as I walked along the gorse boundary

same photo cropped for a better view

 

heading for the bridge

Lichen spreading along the hand rail as the years go on

apparently some Parmelia lichens are the food plant for moth caterpillars

usual view of the hide

a close up photo is the easiest way to see how the clover is doing

through the shutters looking right

 

and left

Woodpigeon the other side of the pond

the day belonged to the flock of about 20 Goldfinches

they seemed to be everywhere

among the reeds at the back of the pond

and in the bushes at the back of the pond too

these Aspens were never planted - suckers from trees next door

catkins remind us of Spring

Celandines too

Dandelions are a welcome source of early nectar

first circuit of the Reserve - no sun

same view once the sun came out

water under the Willows

and looking back the other way

Jelly Ear Fungus

the open space beyond the gorse boundary

sunshine puts everything in a new light

one of the muddy paths

mud and puddles near the path junction

another watery path

and the wood chip destined to help the problem

 Our pile of wood chip still awaits a work party to spread it along the muddy paths. Unfortunately both weather and ground conditions have caused this to be cancelled for the last two week-ends running. As you can imagine, pushing heavy barrows through standing water and mud that is already ankle deep in places will only make the situation worse. Hopefully we'll be able to get the job done shortly.

Although bird watchers have reported Jack Snipe from the  Reserve before, this was the first time I'd seen one. It flushed very late as I approached the log pile where it was sitting under the willow.

please click on photos to enlarge them

Ballachurry Reserve, 9th February, 2021.

a February day at Ballachurry Reserve

 

    A sunny morning tempted me down to Ballachurry Reserve after an absence of 11 days. I was well wrapped up against the cold wind but there was ice on the puddles and the pond.  I got called away after an hour / one circuit. Had I been seeing lots of wildlife this would have been disappointing but, despite the sunshine, there was hardly anything about so I wasn't too sorry to exchange a cold bird hide for somewhere warmer. Here is what I noted:

Birds: 

SC210694 2 x Robins together;  male Blackbird;

SC209694 2 x Goldcrests together; male Chaffinch.

SC208694 Blackbird heard not seen.

Other:

SC210694 garden escape Snowflake in bloom and Stinking Iris seed pods open. Ivy berries now ripe for the birds to take.

SC210694 - Stinking Iris berries ready to drop

these Ivy berries will be appreciated by the birds over the next few weeks

garden escape Snowflake in flower

Glad to see no water rushing along the ditch this time

ice on the pond

another icy shot

Small children don't often forget their scooters

signs of spring round the corner - daffs in bud

gorse gives a bright splash

Hawthorn in leaf in a sheltered spot

Ah! a bird photo at last - male Chaffinch

winter sunshine

winter colours

a clue to the task at our next work party!

 There was no one else at the reserve today although the coke bottle and discarded teabags in front of the hide told a different story. I also had to sweep up a number of home rolled fag ends inside the hide. It's hard to imagine a young child forgetting their scooter on leaving the Reserve, so I wondered if the one left by the hide had in fact been  "joy ridden" and abandoned by someone much older. Hopefully the rightful owner will get it back again soon. I'll mention it to the Police Dog Handler who patrols the reserve.

The wood chip is ready to be spread along the muddiest sections of path as soon as ground conditions permit. Southern Group Committee would like to thank Chris Preston of Roots to Shoots for supplying this once more to help us out. Much appreciated!