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View from the boardwalk, now with Blackthorn in flower.
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Thursday was a beautiful spring day, just perfect for a recording visit at Ballachurry Reserve. Even as I passed through the gate at around 9.20 I could see Blackbirds flying in all directions and the attraction proved to be the ivy berries in the boundary hedge. There were even a couple of Redwings taking these too. Here is the full report:Birds:
SC210694 Blackbird x 2; Goldfinch x 2; Wren.
SC209694 female Chaffinch; 2 x Robin together; Great Tit x 2 together; Goldfinch; Redwing x 2; 2 x Blue Tit together; male & female Blackbirds; 2 x Magpie flying over; Greenfinch. 3 x Goldfinch flying over; Jackdaw.
SC209694 ( from hide) Mallard drake; Moorhen; Great Tit x 2 ; Woodpigeon x 2; Pheasant heard but not seen. 2 x Blackbird; Water Rail heard.
SC209693 Robin; Song Thrush;
SC208694 Robin; 2 x Long-Tailed Tit, one ringed, carrying nest material; Chaffinch heard not seen; Woodpigeon flying over;
SC208695 Wren x 2 together; male Chaffinch + 2 female Chaffinch; female Blackbird; 2 x Dunnock together; 2 x Magpie;
SC209695 Robin; Greenfinch; Great Tit.
Other:
SC208694 2 x 7 Spot Ladybird
SC209695 7 Spot Ladybird
SC208694 7 Spot Ladybird
SC209693 tiny red flowers on some of the Hazel bushes
SC208694 3 x Gorse Shieldbugs
SC209695 Gorse Shieldbug
SC209694Gorse Shieldbug
SC209694 and throughout reserve - Blackthorn in flower.
SC209695 and throughout reserve on gorse - Honey bees
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male Blackbird in the ivy
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feasting on the berries
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female Blackbird close by
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this Blackbird preferred invertebrates
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Blue tit
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female Chaffinch
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view through the shutters
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a dozing mallard near the reeds
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he later woke up
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Moorhen swimming
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and feeding on the edge of the pond
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later it came closer to the hide
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one of a pair of Dunnocks
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| Greenfinch |
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Long-tailed tit
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there were a pair
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this one is ringed
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they were very confiding
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and happily perched very close to me
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nesting material visible in beak
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| Jackdaw |
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another Greenfinch
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| Redwing |
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Robin among the catkins
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and another near the dragonfly pond
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briefly glimpsed Song Thrush
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one of a pair of Wrens
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Gorse Shieldbug
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and another elsewhere
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active Honey bee
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7-spot Ladybird
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7-spot Ladybird and Honey Bee in the background
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cultivated daffodils in bloom
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with wild Celandines nearby
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Blackthorn in flower throughout the reserve now
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including near the hide
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looks lovely against a blue sky
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delicate little, starry flowers
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parts of the reserve still look quite desolate
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tiny red female flowers on the Hazels
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a closer view. Catkins are male and carry the pollen
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the Ash walk
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some views of the new pond
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the meadow is still very muddy
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usual view of the hide
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progress since my last visit
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The Manx for February is Toshiaght Arree, which translates as "beginning of spring" . It certainly felt like that on Thursday. A very enjoyable visit with 19 species of bird recorded.
Please click on photos to enlarge them
