Ballachurry Reserve, Rushen, IOM.: September 2023

after Storm Agnes - no damage fortunately

The weather this Thursday was certainly very different from my Thursday visit to the reserve last week! Overcast for the most part, and still windy from Wednesday's Storm Agnes, but there did seem to be plenty of birds about - especially blackbirds. Here is what I recorded:

Birds:

SC209694 2 x Swallows flying over; Heron; 10x Woodpigeon flying away from near new pond; Robin; 2 x Wren; Jackdaw and Rook flying over; 7 x Blackbirds; Chiffchaff in reeds; Magpie; 5 x Goldfinches; Blue Tit; male Chaffinch;

SC208694 Robin; 3 x Goldfinches; Chiffchaff heard not seen; 2 x Blackbird; Blue Tit.

SC209695 Wren; Robin.

Butterflies:

SC209695 2 x Speckled Wood.

Other:

SC209695 7-spot Ladybird.

SC210694 Chrysolina banksii Beetle x 2 ?

SC209694 5 x Diving Beetle; 2 x Greater Water Boatman.

SC209694 Gorse Shieldbug.

SC209694 Nursery Web Spider.

SC208695 Common Wasp.

SC210704 Common Wasp.

SC209695 Unidentified flies; Helophilus hoverfly.

SC210694 Helophilus hoverfly.

SC209693 unidentified fungi.

SC209694 Artichoke Galls on Oak (Andricus foecundatrix wasp)

Blackbirds everywhere

in the Hawthorn near the new pond

plenty to go round

possibly the same moulting bird as last week?

down it goes!

this one was photographed from the hide

almost queuing up for the berries!

but plenty for these two

first year moulting female Blackbird

it has spotted a tasty bunch of berries

selects one carefully

but quickly clears the lot!

Goldfinches were also just across the pond

enjoying the feast

I counted 5 in this Rowan

taken from the boardwalk - male Chaffinch

this Goldfinch was enjoying a bath

whereas the Blue Tit was searching for food

as was the Chaffinch

possibly the same Chiffchaff as last week?

looking for insects in the reeds

the new Dragonfly pond

absolutely brimful after the heavy rain last night

beautifully clear water as a result

Greater Water Boatman ( aka Backswimmer)

the Diving Beetles were very active

another in the weed

a terrestrial beetle - probably Chrysolina banksii

a solitary Gorse Shieldbug

and one of only 2 Speckled Woods seen today

Nursery Web Spider

Common Wasp

and another on Ivy flowers near the gate

unidentified fly

a "Footballer" Helophilus Hoverfly

and another in the Ivy flowers

unidentified fly

there were several sheltering from the wind

Artichoke Galls caused by Andricus foecundatrix Wasp

unidentified Fungi

heading across the meadow towards the boardwalk

the usual view from the boardwalk - overcast sky

but then the sun tried to come out - I had a shadow!

the boardwalk view again, with a hint of sunshine this time

usual view of hide - berries set the time of year

approaching the hide from the other direction

view through the shutters

a watery sun!

looking back along the stream to main pond

the grass had been cut recently

the path near the new pond

view from the Bowman bench

heading for the path junction

the mini meadow now mown until next spring

straight ahead to the boardwalk or beehive loop to the right

a more open view of the hide

On Friday, 29th September, I returned briefly to the reserve as it was a sunny morning and I had an hour to spare before a local appointment . I was hoping to see more insect life now that the sun was shining. Here is what I added to the previous day's list:

SC208694 Dunnock ; Chiffchaff in firs above compost heap.

SC209694 low flying Buzzard mobbed by about 30 corvids.

SC208695 Great Tit.

SC209695 Comma.

SC209694 Red Admiral & Speckled Wood.

SC209694 Common Darter over new pond rested briefly on leaf with Nursery Web/ Wolf Spiders.

SC209694 3 x unidentified Hawkers over main pond.