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looking back to the hide across the recently raked meadow
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Well, it's no use pretending otherwise : a very cold, dank, dark morning at Ballachurry. A chilly wind in places too making it feel even colder than the 5 C that the thermometer was registering. At first I scarcely saw a bird. Either they were hunkered down in the undergrowth trying to keep warm or perhaps they had sought out local bird feeders to top up their energy levels. Around 11.30 I decided to go home for some hot tea and a warm room, having got decidedly chilly sitting in the bird hide for the last 20 minutes or so. But isn't it always the way? Just as I stood up to close the shutters the birds started to appear! So I sat down again and even did one final circuit of the Reserve before leaving. Here is what I saw:
Birds:
SC209694 ( from hide) 3 x Long Tailed Tit; 3 x Great Tit; Robin; male Blackbird; 2 x Blue Tit; Wren; male and female Chaffinch.
SC209694 ( elsewhere ) Wren; Robin.
SC208694 5 x Siskin on Alder cones; Robin; Blackbird.
SC208695 male and female Chaffinch; Great Tit; Dunnock;
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there were 3 Long Tailed Tits just outside the hide door
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I just managed a quick photo before they moved on
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a pair of BlueTits were foraging in the reeds
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as far as I could tell they had no rings
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the Blackbird was scarcely visible foraging in the undergrowth
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| Dunnock |
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a Robin near the rickety bridge
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Wren just outside the hide shutters
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a bird had been on this stone - taking a drink perhaps?
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usual view on a dank, dark day
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likewise the hide
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the Blue Tits were in the reeds on the left
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nothing out on the water
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there were a few "garden birds" in the hedge
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And finally..............
please click on photos to enlarge them
