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Autumn colours at Ballachurry
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It was a rather cloudy day on Thursday but my morning visit was well worthwhile as there were plenty of birds about, even if the lack of sunshine deterred the insects. It was, of course, Armistice Day and at 11 o'clock a volley of cannons could be heard at the Reserve from 3 different directions. As I listened to the bird song on the Reserve during the two minutes' silence, it was moving to reflect how when the guns finally fell silent during the Great War the exhausted troops realised that birds were still singing.
Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC209694 ( opposite noticeboard, in the same tree together) Blue Tit x 2; Siskin; Chaffinch; Great Tit; Goldfinch.
SC209694 ( hide) 8 Teal ( four males, four females) Magpie; Woodpigeon; Juvenile Blackbirds x 2; Water Rail heard but not seen; Robin; female Chaffinch; Wren; Chiffchaff;
SC209694 ( elsewhere) male Blackbird; Robin; male Pheasant; Wren; Great Tit
SC208694 male Blackbird; Robin; Heron x 2 flying over;
SC208695 Blackbird; Robin; male Chaffinch;
SC210694 3 x Jackdaws on the roof and chimney pots of Old School House next door.
Other:
SC208695 a few Deceiver fungi still there; unidentified lemon fungus
SC208694 Readlead Roundhead fungi on path; Bluelegged Brownie fungi going over; Hare's foot Inkcap;
SC209693 Hare's foot Inkcap; unidentified fungi in grass adjacent to path.
SC208694 Common funnel fungi ( I think) continuing to encircle the compost heap; unidentified small toadstools in the damp meadow. A few fungi with distinctive umbo under willows.
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juvenile male blackbird
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visible from hide
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seemed to be taking Hemlock Water Dropwort seeds which are poisonous for humans
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a different immature blackbird
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Blue tit in vegetation at the back of the pond
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and another in the Alder tree near the notice board
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distant shot of the Chiffchaff which seems to be over wintering on the reserve
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female Chaffinch seen from the hide
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Great Tit taking alder seeds
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there were 3 Jackdaws altogether on the adjacent roof
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Robin and Blue Tit together seen from hide
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Siskin in the Alder tree
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another view of the same bird
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at first I thought there was just one male Teal and 4 females
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but later a total of 4 males and 4 females came out of the reeds
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I was able to watch them for quite a time
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all 8 of them in this distant shot
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the males are particularly colourful
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they eventually came right over to just in front of the hide
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a lot of preening was going on
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they stayed a long time
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and seemed quite unaware of my presence
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they came out of the reeds rather than landing on the water
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female Teal preening
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now looking her best!
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Those of you who receive the Blog via email will need to go to the Blog itself to see the above video footage of Teal
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the ankle deep water along the old boardwalk site has finally subsided
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the mud left behind is covered in mammal footprints
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the £1 coin gives them some scale
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most of them were quite small but numerous
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I think they may be both Hedgehog and Long tails but am seeking advice
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a few shots of the reserve in late Autumn
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looking both ways .....
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along the gorse boundary
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Hare's foot inkcaps still appearing sporadically
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they are really delicate
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the Funnels are forming a ring round the compost heap
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a closer view
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this one was near the path which runs parallel to the road
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these, previously reported, are going over now but a new record for the Island!
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not a great photo but it was pale lemon and quite delicate
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these two were very small, growing in the damp meadow
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Readlead Roundheads - quite a tongue twister, I find!
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the prominent umbo makes this species look like a sombrero
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the regular view of the hide for comparison purposes
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fast flowing stream still
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looks gloomy but lots of birds about
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a few shots from the bird hide to finish on
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the ever advancing reed bed
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looking directly ahead through the shutters
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the churchyard trees, all but bare now
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An altogether enjoyable morning at the reserve but one made more poignant by memories of my two grandfathers who survived the Western Front, and thoughts about my Great Uncle who did not.
My next post will be about the Work Party we held on Saturday, 13th November.
please click on the photos to enlarge them
