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obviously some work underway on the reserve today
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I unexpectedly had a free morning on Friday. After my rather disappointing visit to the Reserve earlier in the week, and given the sun was shining brightly, I decided to visit Ballachurry again. Other people were also taking advantage of the fine weather to bird watch, take photos or, in the case of two of the volunteers, press on with the boardwalk project. I stayed three hours and recorded quite a lot of wildlife, as well as being able to take a few unexpected photos of the demolition of the "wonky bridge".
Birds:
SC210694 Wren; Woodpigeon; Chiffchaff; Great Tit; Robin; Goldfinch; Heron flying over;
SC208694 Chiffchaff; 2 Mallard flying over; 2 Mallard in the stream with 2 ducklings (one of the other bird watchers on the reserve had unfortunately witnessed a third duckling being taken by a Heron); Goldcrest; Woodpigeon heard but not seen; Pheasant heard but not seen; Wren; Blue Tit; Willow Warbler.
SC209694 Heron flying over; Chiffchaff; Goldfinch; female Chaffinch; male Chaffinch.
SC209695 2 x Blue Tit; Great Tit; single Blue Tit going in and out of nesting box; female Blackbird; Wren.
SC208695 Robin;
SC209693 Great Tit
Other:
SC209694 2 x Small Tortoiseshell butterflies
SC209694 3 x Gorse Shieldbug
SC209694 7-spot Ladybird
SC210694 7-spot Ladybird
SC209694 Scathophaga steroraria - female
SC209694 Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly
SC 209694 honey bees in gorse
SC208694 unidentified bumble bee in Blackthorn blossom
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one of about 3 Chiffchaffs on the Reserve
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singing ruffles the throat feathers!
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male Chaffinch
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Drake Mallard on guard near the stream
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mother duck nearby
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heading home with the remaining two ducklings
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colourful Goldfinch
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Heron flying over - one had taken a duckling earlier
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I patiently watched this Blue Tit
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it looked inside the box
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looked round cautiously before entering
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and a few minutes later peeped out
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close-up of the new tenant
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Wren singing near the private entrance
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this Wren near the gate is ringed
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singing Robin
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cooing Woodpigeon
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a last lingering look at the old wonky bridge
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and a man bent on destruction!
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by the time I walked past again only the handrail posts remained
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these proved quite tough to get out!
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but after a determined effort by Peter and Ian....
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| the job was done |
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but work continued on the boardwalk
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for the rest of the morning
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some sort of leaf miner has been at work here
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A little subsequent research suggests the leaf miner could be the larvae of the Stigmella Aurella Moth
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Angelica coming through under the willows
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Red Campion in flower in places now
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Hawthorn coming into bud as the Blackthorn fades
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Gorse requiring a closer look
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popular with the honey bees
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Scathophaga steroraria female
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gorse Shieldbugs as usual
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they are easy to spot on sunny days as they are quite shiny
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yellow daffs also attract insects
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this one is a Hoverfly -Eristalis pertinax
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usual view of the hide
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sunny and sheltered today
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7-spot near the gate on nettles
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and another 7-spot near Ginnie's Bench
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a fairly faded Small Tortoiseshell
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this one looked in better condition
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view through the hide shutters
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I heard the drake fly in and returned to the hide to see it
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you can see why the new pond needs a liner!
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an inviting bench
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| I'm glad to say the noticeboard isn't really falling over - just an odd camera angle! |
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With thanks to Steve Crellin for help with fly IDs
Later that day I received an invitation to meet Karen, one of my replacements as Ballachurry Representative on the Southern Group Committee, back at the Reserve next morning. That will be the subject of my next post.
please click on photos to enlarge them
