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a tranquil scene at Ballachurry Reserve
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Hoping for a repeat of Monday's sunny weather, I was down at Ballachurry Reserve soon after 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Unfortunately the sky remained obstinately overcast and with a chilly breeze I was glad of my jacket. After a couple of hours I decided to head for home, somewhat disappointed, as such conditions are not good for observing invertebrates which tend to like the sunshine. But suddenly I noticed I had a faint shadow on the grass and sure enough the sky was clearing - I did another circuit! The sunshine soon had the Speckled Woods flying and I spotted a couple of Ladybirds and two species of Shieldbug. After 45 minutes I again decided it was time to go home but what was that call coming from the pond area? I retraced my steps and entered the hide. The Water Rail was calling loudly and kept it up for some time. I hoped it would put in an appearance but time was ticking by and I'd promised to be home around midday so left without spotting it. Good to know it's there though. Here is what I recorded during the morning:
Birds:
SC209693 Woodpigeon x 2 flying over
SC209694 Robin; Great Tit; female Mallard; Water Rail heard not seen. Chaffinch
SC209695 Blue Tit
SC210694 Blackbird heard but not seen; Great Tit flying over
SC208694 Chiffchaff; Robin; Blackbird; Great Tit x 3 together; Goldcrest
SC208695 Blackbird heard not seen
The behaviour of the Chiffchaff was interesting. It was fluttering its wings repeatedly and changing its position regularly. The tree foliage was very wet from the night before and I can only guess that it was taking a shower rather than a bath in the pond!
Butterflies:
SC208694 Speckled Wood x 2
SC209695 Speckled Wood x 3
SC208695 Speckled Wood x 2; Green Veined White. Unidentified White
SC210694 Small White on dandelion
SC209694 Speckled Wood
Ladybirds:
SC209695 7-spot Ladybird
SC210694 7-spot Ladybird
Other:
SC209695 unidentified snail on bracken
SC209693 Inkcap fungi along path ( Hare's foot?)
SC208694 Inkcap fungi along path ( Hare's foot?)
SC209694 Inkcap fungi along path ( Hare's foot?)
SC208694 Unidentified fungi on path
SC208694 large fungus on path (possibly Melanoleuca)
SC208695 Footballer Hoverfly on bracken Helophilus species
SC208694 Green Shieldbug on Meadowsweet
SC209695 Gorse Shieldbug on gorse
SC209695 flies on Hogweed, - including Helophilus pendulus and Blowfly species
SC 209694 Noon fly on Cushag ( ragwort)
SC209694 Green Bottle fly on blackberry ( Lucillia species)
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Chiffchaff
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| Mallard |
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| Speckled Woods were everywhere |
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a pale one
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and this one seemed much darker
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Small White
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same butterfly, different angle
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Green Veined White
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"Footballer" hoverfly - Helophilus species, probably pendulus
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Noon Fly
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Green Bottle fly ( I 'll spare you the picture of what it was sitting on previously!)
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Late Hogweed flowers feeding the insects - Helophilus pendulus and Blowflies
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7-spot Ladybird on nettles
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7-spot Ladybird on gorse
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moth pupae on rush flowers
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Nettle-tap moth ( I think) on Cushag ( Ragwort)
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Inkcaps coming through ( remind me of Soldiers' Busbies!)
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Inkcaps are appearing wherever we have spread wood chip on the paths
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they soon turn over and disintegrate
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a different species of fungus on the wood chip
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these are under the willows - more Deceivers?
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unidentified fungi near the hide
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Possibly a Melanoleuca Toadstool
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it has a large central Umbel
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Gorse Shieldbug
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Common Green Shieldbug
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Meadow losing its flowery look
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pool seen from the stream
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rosehips to feed the birds
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Marsh Woundwort now seeding
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sadly,we are losing the Ash walk to die-back disease
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we can now see along the stream again
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Autumn colours on the birches
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approach to the hide has an autumnal look
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seeding Shepherd's Purse on the hide roof
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pond viewed from inside the hide
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regular view taken from the ramp to the hide
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looking back into the meadow from across the bridge
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Meadowsweet in autumn
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interesting colour combinations
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a tiny, golden snail, perfectly camouflaged on the bracken
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The pace of life at Ballachurry Reserve can be very relaxed!
With thanks to Steve Crellin for Fly identifications
Please click on photos to enlarge them
