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late January, Ballachurry Reserve
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On Wednesday I headed down to Ballachurry soon after ten. It was a sunny morning and as I got out of my car I could already hear a Song Thrush singing away inside the Reserve. Then a flutter of wings announced the arrival of a Robin who watched with interest from the adjacent willow as I changed into my wellies. It kept up a commentary on what I was doing until I walked off into the Reserve. An excellent welcome, I thought. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC210694 Robin; 2 x Jackdaw in adjacent garden.
SC209694 Song Thrush in full voice; Great Tit; male Blackbird;
SC208694 Blue Tit; Woodpigeon flying over; 2 x Wren together near compost heap; male Chaffinch.
SC208695 Great Tit; 2 x Chaffinch;
SC209694 ( hide) 2 x Goldfinch; female Blackbird; 4 x Great Tit together; 2 x Chaffinch; Song Thrush; Wren; Dunnock; 2 x Blue Tit;
SC209695 Blue Tit.
Other:
SC209694 the Celandines are open in the ditch
SC209693 Unidentified fungus along the path.
SC209694 Unidentified earthworm
SC208694 Hedgehog and Heron footprints in the mud.
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biro for scale
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the mild weather has brought hedgehogs out of hibernation
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close up of the hedgehog prints
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we think these are Heron footprints
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Great Tit fluffed up against the cold
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Jackdaws in neighbouring trees
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A ringed Blue Tit! From the December ringing session perhaps?
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the Song Thrush resolutely turned its back while singing
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this one near the Hide was more cooperative.
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| earthworm |
There were other signs of spring on the Reserve as well as the increasing birdsong
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| Sunny Celandines |
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lengthening Catkins on the Hazels
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Blossom buds on the Blackthorn
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work will be able to resume if water levels continue to fall
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| the bright yellow lichen stands out in the sunshine on the Hawthorn tree |
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cloud starting to build up over the hills
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Part way through the morning I was joined by my husband who had come to help me check the pond levels - important once the water goes in. They were all pretty much spot on or very close, so easily adjusted.
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we already have some water in the deepest part of the pond!
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level almost perfect
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sky clouding over - time to go home
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please click on photos to enlarge them
