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Sneezewort having its moment at Ballachurry Reserve.
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My last visit of the month to Ballachurry Reserve. The streams are dry again and there was very little water in the pond. I arrived around 9 and was joined for a short time by my husband so the bird list is our combined effort. It was another rather cloudy day although the sun did break through very briefly from time to time. Here is what I recorded:Birds:
SC209693 female Chaffinch; Woodpigeons heard but not seen.
SC209694 ( Hide) 10 x Goldfinch in Rowan tree; 4 x Blackbird ( male, female and juveniles); female Mallard; Great Tit; Blue Tit; 3 x Siskin; 2 or possibly x Reed Warbler; male and female Blackcap; Robin; Chaffinch; Wren; Dunnock; 2 x Woodpigeon; juvenile Whitethroat
SC209694 Wren; Robin; male Blackbird; 3 x Blue Tit; Herring Gull flying over.
SC208694 Wren; Blackbird; Robin; Dunnock; Song Thrush
Butterflies:
SC209693 Speckled Wood
SC208694 Speckled Wood; Small Copper; Common Blue.
SC208695 Speckled Wood; unidentified white flying; Red Admiral.
SC209695 2 Speckled Wood together; Red Admiral; unidentified White flying
SC209694 2 x Speckled Wood together; 2 x Common Blue together on Cushag (Ragwort) plant; another Common Blue nearby, also on Cushag; Small Copper (very faded and ragged)
Other:
SC208694 male Common Darter resting on timber
SC209694 male Common Darter over water lilies
SC209694 2 x 7-spot Ladybirds on thistles
SC209694 Hoverfly caught by Spider
SC208694 resting Bumble Bee
SC209694 Noon Fly
SC210694 Inkcap fungus
SC209694 Inkcap and unidentified fungus along paths
SC209693 unidentified fungi along path
SC208694 Crane Fly
SC208694 Common Green Capsid on Hemp Agrimony
SC209694 Unidentified flies on Cushag ( Ragwort) - including Syrphus and Eristalis species?
SC208694 Unidentified fly on boardwalk handrail
SC209693 unidentified fly on bramble leaf
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Blackbird taking Rowan berries
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quickly joined by a second
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they seemed to be juveniles
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there were four in total
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this is the Rowan at the back of the pond
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male Blackbird on Rowan elsewhere
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female Blackcap
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male Blackcap not showing so well
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just a glimpse of the male Blackcap
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| Goldfinch |
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I counted 10 altogether in the Rowan
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this one was at the very top of the Rowan tree
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juvenile Whitethroat (with thanks to Neil Morris for ID)
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Siskin, one of three
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juveniles I think
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Common Blue - rather faded
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Common Blue
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there were two more on a nearby plant
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a closer view
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wings open and sharing with various flies
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a Syrphus species Hoverfly I think
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unidentified fly 01
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unidentified fly 02
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the same fly 02
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unidentified fly 03
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possibly an Eristalis species Hoverfly
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I would have missed this butterfly had I not scanned with binoculars
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it was a Small Copper on the Sneezewort
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an hour later it was still there
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at first I was perplexed by this butterfly
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but it was a very faded Small Copper
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7-spot Ladybird
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and another elsewhere
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unidentified fungus on path
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more of the same I think
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popping up everywhere at present
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a fresh Hare'sFoot Inkcap
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later stage Hare's Foot Inkcap with inrolled rim
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more going over
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they don't last very long
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Marsh Woundwort still in flower
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still colour in the meadow
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hide from autumnal viewpoint
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usual view from ramp - no blue sky today
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boardwalk and dry stream bed
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looking back to pond along dry stream
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view of dry stream from bridge
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no bridge necessary at present, in fact!
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the other stream also dry
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just a puddle in the dragonfly pond
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one of the smaller Rowans + Blackbird
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a final look at the mostly dry pond
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dark clouds - time to leave before it rains
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please click on photos to enlarge them
