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winter sunshine, Ballachurry Reserve
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Although Tuesday started wet, it was forecast to brighten up around mid morning. With blue sky visibly heading our way I headed down to the Reserve for 11.30 and by mid day the sun was breaking through at last. However, I had not realised how much colder the weather was today - only 11 degrees compared to a balmy 16 at the weekend - and I felt decidedly chilly after just 45 minutes walking round. I decided to go home for an early lunch ( hot soup!) and to collect a warm fleece to wear beneath my cagoule. Hence this report is in two halves, my brief morning visit followed by a couple of hours in the afternoon. Morning Visit 11.30 -12.15.
Birds:
SC209693 Raven croaking overhead; Robin.
SC209694 ( from hide) Rook seen in churchyard trees . Just as I was about to take a photo it flew off cawing loudly to intercept a Buzzard flying over. It was joined by other corvids to mob the Buzzard.
SC209694 Buzzard (see above); Robin; 2 x Pheasants calling /answering each other; Blackbird; Magpie heard.
SC209695 Buzzard overhead ( not molested this time)
SC208694 Water Rail heard from reed bed near boardwalk.
Other:
SC208694 some grisly remains on the plank bench under the willows - feeding perch for bird of prey?
SC208694 Longtail (Rat) swimming very fast and efficiently up the middle of the stream towards boardwalk. When it spotted me it turned and swam back towards the reed bed. This emphasizes the need for hand hygiene for the volunteers when working on the streams in the reserve. I wondered why it was swimming rather than walking along the bank.
Afternoon Visit 1300. - 15.00.
Birds:
SC209693 female Chaffinch; Snipe zigzagged off from path ahead of me.
SC208694 Robin heard.
SC208695 Blackbird heard.
SC209695 Blackbird alarm call heard.
SC209694 Robin heard; Hooded Crow; Goldcrest; Robin; Chiffchaff x 2.
SC209694 ( hide) Blackbird; 2 x Water Rail heard for about 15 minutes. One sounded distant but gradually got closer. This provoked one near the hide to respond until they were calling together. Disappointed not to see them.
I was particularly pleased to see the 2 Chiffchaffs together in the sunlit hedge above Ginnie's bench just as I was leaving. You may remember that 2 were also seen on the reserve recently by the ringing team. I only managed to photograph one of them and the picture shows no ring.
Other:
SC209694 clouds of gnats over pond.
SC209694 and SC208694 same fungi as in previous posts
SC209694 pond suddenly has Duckweed on surface for the first time in its history. Probably brought in on the feet of wildfowl. NEW RECORD
Here are a few photos from both my visits.
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Buzzard hunting over the reserve
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that swimming Longtail had better watch out!
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Ballachurry often has an over-wintering Chiffchaff
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but most migrate to southern / western Europe, Southern Asia or North Africa
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this Robin was close to the Chiffchaffs
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I don't think IOM has water voles but this rat looked quite at home in the water
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it was good to see one in its natural environment rather than raiding my bird feeders
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apologies for this grisly photo - all that's left of a bird of prey's dinner?
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usual view of boardwalk and stream
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looking back the other way
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approaching blue sky
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early view from the boardwalk
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same view in the afternoon when the sun was shining
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I disturbed a small bird drinking from the stream here but wasn't quick enough to identify it
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looking back across the meadow to the hide
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the new dragonfly/dipping pond
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and seen from the other side
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usual view of the hide in the morning
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and in the afternoon with some blue sky
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Hazel catkins
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Stinking Iris down in the ditch
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positively gushing in after the rain
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stream in full flow
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in all directions
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morning view from ramp
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and afternoon in the sunshine
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a wintry looking meadow
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The pond from the hide
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a closer view of the Duckweed which will probably spread right across the pond
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spider web strung across the shutter
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work in progress
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water filled parapet foundations
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volunteer Ian was back concreting during the afternoon
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a sunny corner of the Reserve with an inviting bench
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Although today's visit had no ladybirds or butterflies etc. seeing the Chiffchaffs and Buzzard more than made up for that. When I arrived home there were 5 Long-tailed Tits in my garden too, so I felt I'd had a good day's birding!
please click on photos to enlarge them
