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Happy New Year to you all!
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On a rather wet New Year's Day I had been reading a BTO ( British Trust for Ornithology) post about how some birds were starting to sing again already. This certainly seemed to be the case as I was putting on my wellies just outside Ballachurry Reserve the following day. There was a real symphony of birdsong but scanning the tree tops the other side of the boundary wall I couldn't spot a single bird! Entering the reserve, I discovered a bird ringing session was just concluding near Ginnie's Bench and the birdsong I'd heard was in fact audio tapes being played near the mist nests to encourage passing birds to investigate further!
To arrive in time to see the last few birds being ringed was a real bonus for my visit and got 2023 off to an excellent start. As ringers, Aron and Rob, set off to dismantle the nets I began my recording visit in earnest. Here is what I noted:
Birds:
SC208694 Great Tit; male Chaffinch; Sparrowhawk flying over; Magpie flying over; 10 Goldfinches feeding in Alder; Robin; 2 x Greenfinch; Long Tailed Tit; Blue tit feeding in reeds. 2 x Redwings in tree; female Chaffinch.
SC208695 2 Redwings in Sycamore tree; 2 x Greenfinch (probably the same pair as SC208694)
SC209694 ( from hide) Blue Tit; Magpie flying over; 2 x Woodpigeon in trees on Church boundary; Wren; Robin. Water Rail heard close by but not seen.
SC209693 6 Goldfinch flying over; Blackbird and Robin heard not seen.
Other:
SC209695 7-spot Ladybird still hibernating in oak sapling
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| 2 of the mist nets along the paths |
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at Ballachurry on Monday
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one of 51 birds trapped and ringed - Redwing
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my own view of Redwings later was rather more distant
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a closer view of one of the birds
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a pair of Greenfinch
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they were flying round together
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this may be one of the same pair elsewhere
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it appeared to be eating dried up blackberries
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Blue tit
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the Alder by the boardwalk had a Charm of Goldfinch feeding
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first select your cone
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extract the seed
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then digest!
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Robin seen from Bird Hide
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7-spot Ladybird, hibernating under a leaf on Oak sapling
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2nd January was a Bank Holiday this year. It was a cold 7 degrees Celsius but the sun was shining brightly and there was only the lightest of breezes. The Reserve was wetter than ever though, with standing water along most paths making for a muddy stroll, despite the volunteers' best efforts last year with wood chip and slate chippings.
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flooding under the willows
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and in the meadow
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usual view from the Boardwalk
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| new boardwalk high and dry, unlike the old one. |
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view from the boardwalk - the Greenfinches were in this area
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pond now full to overflowing!
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we'll have a nice marshy area where it overflows in winter
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looking back as I head on round the reserve
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can you see the mist net set out in front of the hide?
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some signs of disruption inside the hide
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you can just see the poles for the net
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2 local landmarks seen from the hide - Bradda Tower
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and Rushen Church
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rushing water
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heading for the pond
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the smaller reed bed
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water rushing along the channel in front of it
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a veritable torrent pouring into the Reserve
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the Blue tit was working its way through these reeds, feeding.
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the view from the hide ramp - a beautiful winter's day.
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With 15 species either seen or heard on the Reserve I felt it was an excellent start to the new year and I had thoroughly enjoyed my morning. I have been offered a list of the 51 birds ringed earlier that morning and will post it on the Blog ( and in the hide) for all to see.
please click on photos to enlarge them
🎂🎈🍾 P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLOG, 2015 -2022. This is the first post of year 9!
