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My first April visit of the year.
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Monday was a beautiful day but I had a commitment during the morning so, unusually for me, I made my visit to Ballachurry Reserve during the afternoon. I arrived at 13.20 intending to stay a couple of hours but stayed much later because it was such a lovely afternoon. Each time I decided to leave something new would turn up to keep me watching and recording and it was after 5p.m when I eventually headed home. Here is the list:
Birds:
SC209693 Male Chaffinch; Robin; male Blackbird.
SC208694 Chiffchaff; Robin; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Willow Warbler/ Chiffchaff; male Pheasant; Chaffinch heard not seen; 10 x Woodpigeon flying over; Wren; Goldfinch.
SC209694 3 x Mallard flying over; Robin; Chaffinch; Chiffchaff; 3 x Goldfinch; Long Tailed Tit; male Blackbird.
SC209694 ( from hide) Blue Tit; Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff; male and female Mallard; Great Tit; female Blackcap ( song heard too - also a male there?)
SC208695 male Chaffinch; Great Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Dunnock; 2 x Blue Tit; Goldfinch.
SC209695 Great Tit.
Other:
SC208695 several Eristalis hoverflies; Platycheirus albimanus Hoverflies
SC209695 5 x Gorse Shieldbug; Hairy Shieldbug.
SC209695 2 x 7-spot Ladybird.
SC209694 7-spot Ladybird.
SC208694 male Platycheirus albimanus Hoverfly on Marsh Marigolds
SC208694 Honey bees, Bumble bees ( possibley Buff Tailed) and Eristalis pertinax Hoverflies in Pussy willow flowers
SC209694 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly.
SC208694 7-spot Ladybird on plank
SC208694 2 x Wolf Spiders on plank
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male Blackbird
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female Blackcap among the Blackthorn flowers
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I only saw the female, but I heard one singing which might have been the male
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a closer view
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Blue Tit
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male Chaffinch
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right against the sun, but this was a singing Chiffchaff
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I saw or heard several on the Reserve today
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a pair of Mallards
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someone had listed a duckling on the noticeboard, but not seen today
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| Goldfinch |
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Great Tit
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distant view of Long Tailed Tit
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a closer view of it
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another Long-tailed Tit elsewhere
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I usually hear Pheasants more often than see them on the Reserve
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this one seemed to approve of the new boardwalk
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why did the Pheasant cross the boardwalk?
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to get to the other side, of course!
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two Blue Tits were in and out of the old Nest Box
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made by Men In Sheds and sold by Charity Shop many years ago
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quick exit
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a chirpy Robin
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Robin in the Blackthorn "snow"
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Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff?
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not singing and salient features not showing
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Lichen patterns on Oak tree
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more Lichen patterns on oak
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Pollinator getting covered in pollen ( Honey bee)
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bees love the pussy willow flowers ( Honey bee)
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this bee looked totally yellow as it flew by and landed beside me ( Honey bee)
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Playtrcheirus albimanus and female Eristalis pertinax Hoverflies
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composite picture of small Hoverfly, wings open and shut ( Platycheirus species)
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Wolf Spider on plank
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Bumble Bees were also in the willow - Buff Tail ?
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as were the Hoverflies ( Eristalis pertinax,)
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Another Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly on a Daffodil
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| same again |
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a different sort in the Marsh Marigolds ( probably male Platycheirus albimanus)
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a closer view
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there were 7-spot Ladybirds in the nettles...
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and in the Celandines
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this one was on the stack of planks by the boardwalk
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Gorse Shieldbugs are rather like military Tanks
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they go straight over the top of obstacles
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even when it's a Ladybird!
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Gorse Shieldbugs enjoying the spring sunshine
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Gorse Shieldbug - note the red antennae
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| the Hairy Shieldbug (aka Sloe Bug) was still in the same gorse bush. |
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fixed point photo from Boardwalk
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the fine-looking dead hedge
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spot the Marsh Marigold?
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the first flower for the new pond
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new pond looking the other way
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the Boardwalk leads to an inviting path through the blossom
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filigree Birches
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hide in the sunshine
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the meadow is still rather muddy
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usual view from the ramp
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essence of Spring - daffs and primroses
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still a good flow in the stream
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usual view through the hide shutters
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and usual view of the Hide itself
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when the Dandelions close up it's time to go home!
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I can guess what the next Work Party task will be!
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What an excellent start to the month!
With thanks to Steve Crellin for the fly identifications
please click on photos to enlarge them
