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a perfect winter's day
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Thursday was a beautiful day and it was a real pleasure to walk round the reserve in the sunshine. I was so pleased to see the yellow planning notice on the gatepost! Manx Wildlife Trust was given a generous donation, some years ago now, to build a dragonfly pond and pond dipping area at the reserve but it has seemingly been frustrated at every turn. However, it has finally reached the planning stage and, if approved, our volunteers should be able to make a start this year once the nesting birds season is over (with a little help from a mini-digger!) You can see the application here:
https://services.gov.im/planningapplication/services/planning/planningapplicationdetails.iom?ApplicationReferenceNumber=21/00152/B
As I approached the gate a Kestrel flew out of the reserve and off across the fields opposite. A good start to my morning's observations I thought. Here is the full list:
Birds:
SC210694 Kestrel; 145 x Geese flying over (believed to be Pink Footed)
SC208694 Blue Tit ( clouds of pollen fell from the Alder catkins each time it landed on a branch); Robin ( preening) ; Long Tailed Tit; 2 x Goldfinch
SC209694 Wren; 8 x Wood Pigeon flying over; Goldcrest; Chiffchaff (I had a very brief view, just long enough to see the eye stripe as it flew into the reserve from next door. Has been seen by others since); male Chaffinch;Great Tit; Robin;
SC209694 ( from Hide) Great Tit;
SC208695 Ring Tail Hen Harrier flying along boundary with reserve; Great Tit; Chaffinch heard but not seen; Goldcrest heard but not seen
SC209495 male Blackbird;
Other:
SC208694 7-spot Ladybird
SC209694 2 x 7-spot Ladybird
SC209694 4 x Gorse Shieldbug
SC209694 1 x Sloe Bug ( also known as Hairy Shieldbug)
SC209694 unidentified Bumble Bee zoomed right past my face!
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Planning notice re Dragonfly pond
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it has taken a long while to get this far
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someone has been riding a bike round the reserve
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going through the mud churns up the paths
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we have to get the wood chip down on areas like this
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standing water on top of the ankle deep mud
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a sunny day at the hide
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male Chaffinch
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Great Tit
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Lone Long Tailed Tit
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| Robin |
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this one had found a sunbeam near the compost in which to preen
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this Long Tailed Tit was working through the reeds
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blue sky setting off the Hazel catkins
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and the Pussy Willows
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Snowdrops more open than last week
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dwarf daffs near Ginny's Bench
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still floods under the willows
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this is the pipe that got blocked a few weeks ago
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rushes coming through now in the damp meadow
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I printed out the photo to count these geese - 145
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others seen elsewhere were Pink Footed - these may be too
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I have asked Manx Birdlife to ID if possible
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and attractive corner of the reserve
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bridge to compost heap
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the Chiffchaff flew out of these trees into the Reserve
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tucked up 7-spot Ladybird
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this one was harder to see
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another enjoying the warmth of the sunshine
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Sloe Bug, also known as Hairy Shieldbug
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and a Gorse Shieldbug
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a final look at the pond
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please click on photos to enlarge them
