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still green despite the drought - Ballachurry meadow area
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Suitably creamed and sun-hatted, I arrived at the reserve about 9.30 on Thursday. By the time I left it was 23 Celsius, comparatively cool compared to Tuesday's 28 degrees! Fortunately there was a north easterly breeze blowing, so walking round was quite pleasant and I was in the shade of the trees very often too. It was a quieter visit than last week. Perhaps the wildlife was also feeling the heat. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC210694 Chiffchaff heard not seen.
SC209693 Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Chaffinch all heard but not seen; Goldfinch; Sedge Warbler heard ( but not from Reed bed).
SC209694 Woodpigeon flying over; Blackcap and Chaffinch heard not seen; 2 x adult Moorhen + 2 chicks. 2 Mallard ( females or juveniles) Sedge Warbler heard not seen; Juvenile Robin drinking from new pond; 3 x Goldfinch; Wren.
SC208694 Chiffchaff, Chaffinch and Pheasant heard not seen; also, Blackcap and Woodpigeon heard; 2 x Goldfinch; Great Tit; Blue Tit; 2 x Sedge Warbler heard together but only 1 seen. There was what sounded like a Coot in the stream by the bridge, hidden by the Dropwort. The Merlin phone app. gave it as a Coot but I was unable to see it to verify.
SC208695 Blackcap heard not seen; Song Thrush heard and juvenile seen; Magpie flying over; Great Tit; Woodpigeon flying over.
SC209695 Blackcap heard not seen.
Butterflies and Moths:
SC2093694 Speckled Wood.
SC209694 Speckled Wood x 3; Meadow Brown x 2; Common Blue; Red Admiral; unidentified white butterflies flying.
SC209694 Silver Ground Carpet Moth.
SC209695 Ermine species Moth.
SC208694 Speckled Wood x 3; Red Admiral; Meadow Brown.
SC208695 Speckled Wood x 3; Red Admiral;
SC209695 Meadow Brown x 2.
Other:
SC209694 Rhingia species Hoverfly
SC209694 Yellow Dung Fly
SC209695 Marmalade Hoverfly
SC209694 Hawthorn Shieldbug
SC209695 2 x Gorse Shieldbug nymphs seen, different instars
SC209694 12 x Diving Beetles; Several Pond Skaters; 1 x Greater Water Boatman;
SC209694 2 x Blue-tailed Damselflies at new pond!
SC209694 Common Wasp and Unidentified Hoverfly drinking from pond.
SC209694 Numerous small metallic green flies round the new pond.
SC209693 Marmalade Hoverfly on buttercup.
SC208695 7-spot Ladybird
SC209693 Hoverfly species
SC209693 Depressaria daucella Moth caterpillars on Hemlock Water Dropwort
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a tranquil scene
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Mallards and Moorhen
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adventurous Moorhen chick
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and a less confident one with parent
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| Goldfinch |
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Song Thrush fledgling - thanks to Neil Morris for confirming ID
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it was near where the Song Thrush had a beak full of worms last week
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Sedge Warbler practising its rattles, whistles and squeaks
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Sedge Warbler near the Board Walk
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Common Blue male
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the same butterfly
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one of several Meadow Browns
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Speckled Wood
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another elsewhere
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Ermine moth species
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I saw it fly in and hide in the short grass
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Bird Cherry tree further defoliated by caterpillars
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the webs now seem empty of caterpillars
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there are still caterpillars of Depressaria daucella in the Dropwort though
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the new pond continues to evaporate
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the shallow shelf is fully revealed
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but the deeper area is full of life
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Blue-tailed Damselfly - male
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and this one may be a female
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diving beetle walking on the mud
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I saw some fly in
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there were at least a dozen in the water
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Greater Water Boatman, aka Back-swimmer - you can see why!
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Pond Skater
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there were lots of these flies in and over the mud
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they are a brilliant metallic green
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but quite small
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Large Hoverfly taking a drink?
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Hoverfly species
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Marmalade Hoverfly on Hogweed bud
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Marmalade Hoverfly on buttercup
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many flies were keeping cool under leaves
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Yellow Dung Fly
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7-spot Ladybird
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early instar of Gorse Shieldbug
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and a later instar nymph close by
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adult Hawthorn Shieldbug
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they like Rowans too, as here
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first Meadowsweet flower
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the mini meadow near the noticeboard
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the Elders are in full flower now
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as are the wild roses
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beautiful single rose flowers
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Pink Marsh Woundwort now in flower
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Usual photo of the hide - only just visible!
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I used to worry about the roof drying out but so far it has always recovered
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a different view of the hide
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usual view from hide ramp
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amazing amount of Hemlock Water Dropwort flanking the new board walk
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some has collapsed in the recent strong winds
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usual view from the board walk
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it has also taken over the bridge - Coot heard from its depths!
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view from Ginnie's Bench
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looking back at the rose as I left
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The highlight of this visit was surely seeing the two Damselflies by the new pond. This pond was originally conceived to be a habitat for Dragonflies and Damselflies, so to see them finding it is very gratifying. Well done all the volunteers for your hard work making it and many thanks to the donors who funded it in memory of their parents.
please click on photos to enlarge them
