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Knapweed in the meadow
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I arrived at Ballachurry Reserve around 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, feeling pleased with myself that I had got down there so early. Two birding friends were just leaving , one planning to go on to Langness and the other to go home for breakfast, having been there since 7.30 a.m.! Needless to say, having gleaned from them what was about, I failed to see anything as exciting! The early photographer catches the shot! Here is my own humble offering: Birds:
SC209694 2 x female Mallard asleep on the pond; a warbler was in and out of the reeds at top speed so I didn't manage to identify it; 3 x Goldfinch; male Blackbird; juvenile Blackbird; Swallow flew over and dipped into pond; Wren;
SC208695 male Blackbird
SC208694 Wren on boardwalk
SC210694 6 unidentified geese flew over honking but they were against the sun and I couldn't identify them
SC209693 Wren heard but not seen
Butterflies & Moths:
SC209693 Speckled Wood; Small Tortoiseshell; 2 x Unidentified Whites together
SC208694 2 x Red Admiral on Hemp Agrimony; Speckled Wood; Meadow Brown; Unidentified white flying; Green Veined White
SC208695 Speckled Wood; Unidentified White
SC209695 Meadow Brown; Speckled Wood
SC209694 Speckled Wood x 2; unidentified White flying near hide; Small Tortoiseshell.
SC208695 Udea lutealis moth
Grass moths throughout the reserve
Other:
SC209694 Tiger Crane Fly - Nephrtoma flavipalpis on Willow near path junction
SC210694 Knot Grass Caterpillar on Dock leaf NEW RECORD
SC209694 Marmalade Hoverfly ( I am noticing that these small Hoverflies always land on a leaf in one direction then turn round to face the other)
SC209693 Common Wasp; Ichneumon wasp ( no photo); Froghopper on leaf; Poecilobothrus nobilitatus fly on Willow NEW RECORD for Reserve & only the second IOM record
SC208694 male Common Darter dragonfly seen on bridge handrail and later on the stacked timber by the bridge.
SC210694 Nursery Web but no spider visible
SC209694 Nursery Web but no spider visible
SC210694 2 x 7-spot Ladybird
SC209693 7-spot Ladybird
SC208695 Flesh Fly
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2 female Mallards were sleeping among the water lilies
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later they were out on the water
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Wren on the boardwalk
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it was hunting for insects between the boards
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Common Blue
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Green Veined White
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Meadow Brown
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and another eleswhere
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Hemp Agrimony attracting Red Admirals
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a closer view
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this one looking a bit ragged
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underwing visible
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Small White
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Speckled Wood
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they were on just about every path
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usual view from the hide ramp
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meadow still looking colourful
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Common Darter
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I think this was the same insect, though seen an hour later
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can you see the moth?
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Grass moths are everywhere but hard to spot when not flying
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Knot Grass Moth larva
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Great Willowherb starting to be evident
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usual view of the Hide
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| Froghoppper |
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7-spot Ladybird
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I hadn't seen any at the Reserve for ages
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so delighted to see three
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another No Dogs sign near the other entrance
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a colourful Tiger Crane Fly - probably Nephrotoma flavipalpis
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Flesh fly
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quite a striking fly - Poecilobothrus nobilitatus
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Nursery Web for Pisaura mirabilis spider
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and another elsewhere
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No Scrumping allowed! Needed for the birds.
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likewise the Rowan berries
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recent storms had brought this Oak branch down - I was able to cut it off
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a Willow had also split in two
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a small amount of rainwater back in the pond
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the main pond
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looking towards the boardwalk
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colourful Loosestrife
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Time flies at Ballachurry and I headed home for lunch.
With thanks to Ian Scott for the Caterpillar ID and Steve Crellin for the flies
Please click on photos to enlarge them
