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| calm after the storms |
It was with some trepidation that I visited the Reserve this afternoon . We have experienced 3 Amber Alert named storms in the space of just 5 days - Dudley, Eunice and Franklin. Would Ballachurry have suffered any damage? I am pleased to say that there was very little evidence of wind damage at all - Ginnie's bench had blown over, and a Blackthorn bush will need some attention at the next work party but other than that everything seemed fine. What was clear however, was that we had also had some heavy rain ( + melting snow after a short blizzard on Saturday) Both streams were flowing well and there were large puddles under the willows and where the new boardwalk is under construction. The new dragonfly pond wasn't quite full but is well on the way.
The bad weather obviously hadn't deterred the youngsters who use the hide as a meeting place - some obscene graffiti suggests quite a young age group, I think. Most people lose the need to leave "rude" words & pictures in public places as they mature. Two shutters had been left swinging in the wind and the hide again smelt of pot, so the youngsters who were caught & warned recently have either not heeded Police advice or there is another group also meeting there. The Police will be updated about this most recent anti-social behaviour.
On a more cheerful note, here is a list of the few birds that were about this afternoon:
Birds:
SC209693 female Blackbird
SC208694 Robin; Wren on Compost Heap; Goldcrest on compost heap; female Blackbird; Redwing; Blue Tit.
SC208695 2 x Chaffinch ( pair) female Blackbird;
SC209695 2 x Blue Tit; Great Tit; male Chaffinch; female Blackbird; Redwing.
Other:
SC208694 and SC209693 usual fungi on path
SC209694 Lesser celandines in flower. Cultivated daffodils in bud.
SC210694 Snowdrops in flower
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| amazing how something as tiny as a Goldcrest can weather the storms |
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| two views of the new pond |
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| not quite full |
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| flooding under the Willows |
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| stream brimful |
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| no chance of further work while flooded |
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| blown over in the gales |
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| more fungi appearing along the paths |
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| they like the underlying wood chip |
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| Cultivated daffodils in bud |
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| wild Celandines behind them |
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| looking across the meadow to the hide |
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| and across meadow to the bridge |
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| the usual view of the hide, today with blue sky background |
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| and looking across the meadow to the hills |
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| a full stream under the willows |
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| a reminder that our work party was cancelled at the week-end |
Last Saturday's work party was cancelled because of a poor weather forecast. In fact the rain had already arrived by breakfast time and turned to snow by 10 o'clock when the work parties normally start. We'll try again next week-end.
Please click on photos to enlarge them
Incidental Report 22nd February 2022
SC210694 2 x Chaffinch ( pair;) 2 x Blackbird (pair)
SC209694 pair of Mallard feeding on pond; 2 x Great Tit
SC208695 Song Thrush; Goldfinch.
SC208694 female Blackbird
