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Marsh Marigolds in the Meadow
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I hurried down to Ballachurry Reserve on Tuesday morning, arriving at 9.30 in sunshine. There was bad weather forecast for the afternoon and the first raindrops were just beginning to fall as I left at 1p.m. Although the sunshine didn't last and a very cold breeze sprang up, I still had a very enjoyable morning. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC210694 male Chaffinch, seen from road as I was putting on my Wellies. Great Tit heard but not seen; Dunnock; Goldfinch; 5 x Jackdaw flying over.
SC209693 Buzzard flying over. Chaffinch; Wren ; Robin.
SC209694 2 x Great Tit together; 2 x male Pheasant flying in together; Chiffchaff; Chaffinch; Robin.
SC209694 ( from hide) Moorhen, has injured leg. It is fine swimming but has to hop when on land; Mallard Drake; Chiffchaff; Robin; Wren and Great Tit heard not seen; 2 x Blackbird together; Blue Tit.
SC208694 2 x Swallow flying over; Woodpigeon on the ground in the meadow; Willow Warbler; Chiffchaff; Blue Tit; male Chaffinch; Long tailed Tit; Mallard pair in stream by boardwalk; Song Thrush; Buzzard mobbed by corvid; Blackbird flying over; Goldfinch; Great Tit.
SC209695 6 x Jackdaw flying over; 2 x Chiffchaff; Dunnock; Wren; Blue Tit going in and out of nest box.
SC208695 Blue Tit; 2 x Goldfinch.
Other:
SC210694 7-spot Ladybird x 6
SC209695 Gorse Shieldbug x 6
SC210694 Yellow Archangel now in flower ( garden escape)
SC210694 Muscari continue in flower ( garden escape)
SC210694 Oxalis in flower ( garden escape)
SC208694 small flies on bridge handrail ( Anthomyiidae, Pegoplata or paradelia species) + Eristalis Hoverfly + Calliphora species of Blowfly
SC209694 Platycheirus albimanus Hoverfly; Syrphus species Hoverfly; Anthomyiidae species fly.
SC210694 Neomyia Species of fly; Syrphus species Hoverfly.
SC209694 unidentified Butterfly crossing the path ( sun in my eyes, unfortunately)
SC208694 Stitchwort in flower
SC209693 first Bird Cherry Blossom open.
SC209693 more Ladysmock ( Cuckoo flower) appearing
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proud proprietor - a Blue Tit
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cautiously looking out
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then making a rapid exit
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spot the birdie?
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does this help? Chiffchaff.
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this one was easier to spot
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| Dunnock |
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one of several Chaffinches seen
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and another
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as I photographed this Goldfinch.....
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it was joined by another
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| this one was atop the Holly by Ginnie's Bench |
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This Mallard Drake flew in with a great splash
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he didn't stay very long
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the Moorhen was back this week
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although it seems fine in the water.......
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when it headed for the bank
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I noticed it was hopping, not walking
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it seems to have an injured right leg
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although it doesn't like to put weight on it
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it is fine for having a good scratch!
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| Robin |
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it wasn't just me that scared off the ducks by the boardwalk
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they retreated to a safe distance upstream
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when I disturbed a black cat hidden in the Hemlock Water Dropwort
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it made off along the boardwalk
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I think it was stalking this Song Thrush rather than the ducks
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the Thrush flew up off the ground near from where the cat had been hiding
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this Willow Warbler has found a good song post
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it was singing all morning
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lovely little birds
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there were about 40 of these tiny flies on the bridge handrail
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a tiny Hoverfly on a Celandine ( female Platycheirus albimanus)
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a different sort of Hoverfly on Hogweed ( Syrphus species)
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Neomyia Species of fly on a Dandelion
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Hoverfly ( male Eristalis pertinax)
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Calliphora species Blowfly
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Syrphus species Hoverfly with smaller Anthomyiid fly
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Dandelions are excellent for wildlife (even if gardeners dislike them!) ( Honey bee)
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It is no coincidence that the Warblers arrive back around the same time as the insects re-emerge! ! There were also plenty of snack sized gnats flying about.
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one of 6 Gorse Shieldbugs in the usual gorse bush
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one of 6 7-spot Ladybirds near the Noticeboard
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the Yellow Archangel has come into flower since last week
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First blossom on Bird Cherry
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garden escape Grape Hyacinth
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another garden escape - Oxalis starting to flower
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primroses by the stream enjoying their moment before the Water Dropwort takes over
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a closer view of them
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Stitchwort near the meadow
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and the ususal views to close
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between the boardwalk and the private entrance
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boardwalk view towards the hills
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the water in the new pond seems to be clearing
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but I couldn't spot any diving beetles today
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looking back from the meadow
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I took this to show how much the willows are greening up now
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the hide from the meadow
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usual view through the shutters
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and looking the other way
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I wondered why the Moorhen gave a warning cry, then spotted the cat again!
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| Someone else had spotted it on 9th April too |
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the ducklings and moorhen chicks don't have a very good chance of survival with all the predators on the Reserve patrolling their nesting sites
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view from the ramp - no blue sky unfortunately
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usual fixed point photo to show the weather and the season
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and the Willow Warbler was still singing when I left
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An afternoon of wild, wet and stormy weather followed, but I had enjoyed my morning of wildlife watching at the Reserve.
With thanks to Steve Crellin for fly identifications.
please click on photos to enlarge them
