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not a cloud in the sky for my first October visit, but a very squally wind
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I missed my visit to the Reserve last week because I was away on holiday. This week I had planned to go on Tuesday morning, but then at short notice I had to swap my visit to Monday at 11 o'clock. Again I headed straight for the new pond to see what the recent heavy rain had achieved while I was away and was pleased to see that even the shallower areas are now filling up. Then I resumed my normal route and recorded the following wildlife: Birds:
SC209693 Robin heard but not seen
SC209694 Robin ; male Blackbird taking Hawthorn berries near hide; 2 x Buzzard overhead being mobbed by corvids;
SC208695 male Pheasant; Magpie flying over; Robin.
Butterflies:
SC210694 Red Admiral on ivy flowers
SC208695 Comma on blackberries
Ladybirds:
SC208695 7-spot on bramble leaf
SC209694 7-spot on thistle
SC209695 7-spot on Oak leaf
Dragonflies:
SC210694 3 x Common Darter
Other:
SC209694 2 x Gorse Shieldbug
SC208695 Green Shieldbug
SC209695 Green Shieldbug
SC209694 new unidentified fungus on path
SC208695 unidentified fungus under willow
SC209695 Cortinarius fungi continuing to appear
SC209694 Bumble Bee on Cushag (Ragwort)
SC209694 Carder bee on dandelion
SC209694 various Hoverflies on Cushag ( Ragwort)
SC209694 3 x Noon Fly
SC210694 Noon fly on ivy
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Corvids were giving the Buzzards a hard time
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they were very persistent
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the aerial "dogfight" went on for some time
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a somewhat blurry image of one Buzzard
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this one appears to have wing damage?
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Blackbird in heart of the Hawthorn tree
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evidence that the birds are also enjoying the fruit on the ground
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Red Admirals also enjoy fallen apples but today.......
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this one was enjoying the ivy nectar as were other insects
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I was delighted to see this Comma, they are fairly rare down here in the south
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Green Shieldbug
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I think this is a Green despite being in the gorse!
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whereas this is a Gorse Shieldbug
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Common Darter enjoying the warmth of the tool shed roof
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7-spot Ladybird rolled in Thistle leaf
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and another sunbathing on an oak leaf
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this 7-spot was among the brambles
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a very large Bumble bee on the Cushag
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and a Carder bee on a Dandelion
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a variety of flies on the reserve 01
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a "footballer" Hoverfly 04
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and a different species 05
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another Hoverfly on Cushag 06
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three Noon Flies enjoying sunshine on cherry tree trunk
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fungi beneath the trees round the old beehive loop
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these were just inside the entrance gate
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a large and very slimy specimen along the path to the hide
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these are beneath an oak tree
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the pond will soon be full I think
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a little more heavy rain should do the trick
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looking back to the hide from the boardwalk
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and the more usual view
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view to the hills from the boardwalk
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the sun was still shining when I left at 1o'clock
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Another interesting morning spent at Ballachurry Reserve, marred only by the time I had to spend cleaning up the hide after some antisocial visitors.
Please note that the reserve will be closed to the general public on Sunday morning, 16th October while a Manx Wildlife Trust event is held there. This is a ticket holder only event, "Autumn well-being in nature session" for which you can find full details on the Trust website www.mwt.im
please click on photos to enlarge them
