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a slightly different view of the pond - but no frogspawn
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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
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Snowdrops near the gate
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the growing log pile
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best the sun could do
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female chaffinch
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and a male
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Blue Tit near the compost heap
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another in the distance as I walked along the gorse boundary
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same photo cropped for a better view
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heading for the bridge
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Lichen spreading along the hand rail as the years go on
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apparently some Parmelia lichens are the food plant for moth caterpillars
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usual view of the hide
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a close up photo is the easiest way to see how the clover is doing
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through the shutters looking right
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and left
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Woodpigeon the other side of the pond
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the day belonged to the flock of about 20 Goldfinches
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they seemed to be everywhere
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among the reeds at the back of the pond
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and in the bushes at the back of the pond too
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these Aspens were never planted - suckers from trees next door
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catkins remind us of Spring
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Celandines too
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Dandelions are a welcome source of early nectar
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first circuit of the Reserve - no sun
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same view once the sun came out
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water under the Willows
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and looking back the other way
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Jelly Ear Fungus
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the open space beyond the gorse boundary
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sunshine puts everything in a new light
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one of the muddy paths
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mud and puddles near the path junction
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another watery path
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and the wood chip destined to help the problem
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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
