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Spring Blackthorn at Ballachurry Reserve
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We had just had a few days of beautiful spring weather, cloudless skies and even our first couple of butterflies in the garden. However, all that changed on Tuesday when, despite some sunshine, we were back to the strong winds and falling temperatures. Even so, I resolved to wrap up warm and go to the Reserve that morning because the rest of the week sounded very unsettled. I arrived about 9.45 and immediately spotted a female Blackbird leaving the hedge but birds were quite few and far between and those I did see were mostly low in the undergrowth trying to stay warm out of the icy wind. Here is my list:
Birds:
SC210694 Robin;female Blackbird.
SC209694 2 x Blackbird; Great Tit x 2; 5 x Goldfinch ( seen from hide) ; Wood Pigeon flying over; 2 x Raven flying over croaking. Buzzard flew up from adjacent field, joined by a second one; male Mallard on pond.Chaffinch heard not seen.
SC209695 Chaffinch heard not seen.
SC208694 Goldcrest on compost heap; Dunnock.
Other:
SC209695 7 spot Ladybird in gorse.
SC209695 5 x Gorse Shieldbugs in gorse
SC209693 unidentified fungus on path.
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a Goldcrest is almost guaranteed on the compost heap at the moment
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they are quite camouflaged against this background
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I have to wait for a movement to spot them
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lovely little birds
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I had been unblocking this area of stream debris
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and the Dunnock was quick to move in looking for disturbed insects
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I always climb the bank to check the inlet pipe the other side does not need clearing. On Tuesday as I did so a Buzzard rose up from a corner of the adjacent field and was quickly joined by another.
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two Buzzards over the adjacent field
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they flew off towards the Ballakilley land
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I crossed the bridge heading for the compost heap
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admiring the Blackthorn blossom on the far side
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the ash walk
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4 Gorse Shieldbugs keeping each other cosy in the cold
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but this one was not so lucky
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"seek and ye shall find" -I sought meticulously and found a 7spot!
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the ever growing pile of materials
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a few dry days have enabled some progress
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one day this will be a boardwalk again!
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usual view with the Hawthorn now in leaf
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the odd fungus still pops up along the path
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a carpet of celandines under a sycamore tree
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the Alder catkins have lengthened considerably
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and were blowing in the gusty wind
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the wind had snatched the notice from its pole - I found it nearby
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the new pond is in a nice sunny spot
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the water level had gone down again
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Hemlock Water Dropwort growing apace now
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looking the other way
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Just as I was leaving the mowing contractor for Rushen Commissioners arrived to give the grass its first cut of the year. We continue to be very grateful to the Commissioners for taking on this work and to Steve, the Contractor, for making such an excellent job of it every year. Ballachurry Reserve has proved to be a fantastic facility for the people of Rushen, and one enjoyed by many age groups.
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cut grass smells like summer!
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I had to head home for lunch but was back briefly next day to put up the nesting bird notices
More of this in my next post perhaps. Although I've put up the notice a few days earlier than usual for practical reasons, I chanced to be looking back through last year's Blog (we were in Lockdown this time last year) and see I visited the reserve on exactly the same date for my "permitted exercise". We already had a Chiffchaff on the reserve last year and this is one of the birds that builds its nest between 10 and 30 cm. off the ground, so do listen out for them if you are at the reserve during the rest of the month. Hopefully they will return soon.
While putting up the notices and repairing the one by the pond I saw the following:
SC209693 2 x male Blackbird ( the catkins seem to be attracting them) ; male Chaffinch; Coal Tit.
SC208694 Goldcrest on compost heap again
SC209694 ( hide) 2 x Blue Tit; 5 x Goldfinch; Ringtail Hen Harrier flew across in front of the shutters (i.e. about 4 feet off the ground and about 2 feet away from the hide) - a wonderful if very brief view which took me completely by surprise. It carried on at low level then flew off over the road and the Ballakilley land opposite.
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looking very smart for the new season after yesterday's cut
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| and the little Goldcrest was still picking over the compost heap |
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please click on photos to enlarge them
