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| Early December at Ballachurry Reserve. |
Thursday was the best day of the week in terms of predicted weather so I set off with high hopes. My spirits were somewhat dampened though by the sight of a squashed hedgehog in the road just outside the reserve. Not a very auspicious start but then a Wren came along the wall and watched me change into my wellies before entering the Reserve, so that cheered me up a bit. Here is what I saw:
Just Outside Reserve :
SC210694 dead Hedgehog in the road; Wren.
SC210694 Sparrowhawk flying along the road from Sloc roundabout about 2 feet off the ground before hopping over the wall into the Ballakilley land. Followed by some loud squawks, so it must have been a successful attack.
SC209695 inside the private orchard - Herring Gull "paddling" the grass and pulling out worms
Within the Reserve:
Birds:
SC209693 Robin heard not seen; Great Tit heard not seen;
SC208694 Wren; Robin seen three times ( once in meadow; once by boardwalk bridge; once by compost heap.
SC208694 A Goldfinch in a gorse bush caused me some concern. I was looking for invertebrates in the gorse and suddenly found my face about 12" inches from a Goldfinch, which didn't fly away. I retreated immediately and took the photo from the bridge. When I returned later it had gone. Is it's beak deformed or is it simply the camera angle?
SC209695 female Blackbird; Great Tit; Blue Tit; male and female Chaffinches; Goldfinch;
SC209694 Blackbird heard not seen; Wren;
SC210694 male and female Blackbirds; Wren
Other:
SC209693 Unidentified fungi on path
SC209694 unidentified fungi on path near hide
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| Chaffinch |
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| the Goldfinch that caused me some concern |
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| Herring Gull luring up the worms by mimicking rain patter with its feet |
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| Robin |
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| unidentified fungi near the hide |
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| fungi to be identified |
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| growing in the woodchip path |
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| the puddles were back at the boardwalk site |
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| making life difficult for Ian who had arrived to do some work |
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| he did manage to get some hardcore down though |
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| usual view from the ramp |
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| water table high in the meadow area -it was cut just in time! |
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| a farewell glance at the hide |
Not a great deal about to record, but an enjoyable morning nonetheless.
please click on photos to enlarge them
