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Ballachurry pond and reed bed
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I visited Ballachurry this week on Wednesday morning around 09.15. It was a dull, grey day but that meant I didn't have the low sun shining in my eyes as I sat in the hide bird watching. It also made photography easier. In particular there were several species of "garden birds" in the vegetation at the back of the pond. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC209694 (from Hide) male and female Blackbirds; Greenfinch x 3; Robin; Great Tit; male and female Mallards; Moorhen; Goldcrest ( very close view in willow adjacent to bird hide shutter); Wren x 2 also in willow adjacent to shutter); 5 x Goldfinch; Coal Tit; male Chaffinch; Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Sparrowhawk in Churchyard trees; Long-tailed Tit x 3; Blue Tit x 2.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) 2 x Blackbirds flying through; Robin; 3 x House Sparrow; male Chaffinch; Great Tit; Blue Tit.
SC208694 Woodcock flushed from under the willows; Robin; Great Tit.
SC209693 Robin; 5 x Goldfinch flying over.
SC208695 Dunnock.
SC210694 Great Tit x 2.
Other:
SC209694 several pond snails on stone in new pond.
No new fungi seen; no other invertebrates seen.
SC208694 Domestic cat sitting on boardwalk.
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first view through the shutters
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I heard a Water Rail from this area of the pond
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and another was calling from the reeds, very close to the path
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| Moorhen |
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| Mallards |
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Rosehips popular with the Blackbirds
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and three Greenfinches
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| Chaffinch |
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Goldfinch
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Wren right outside the shutters
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a lovely close view but I failed to photograph a Goldcrest there earlier
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Sparrowhawk landed in Churchyard trees opposite
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as did this Carrion Crow
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and a Magpie
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Great Tit
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it spent some time preening
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the Dunnock was near the old beehive loop
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two views of the new pond
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lots of tiny snails visible
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crossing the bridge from the willows to the meadow
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usual view of the board walk
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later I found I was being watched from it
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a lovely pet, but the birds better watch out!
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view from the boardwalk on a grey day
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Red Campion still in flower
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the usual view of the hide
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An enjoyable morning despite the grey conditions. I had called in briefly the previous afternoon, which was bright and sunny, but saw very little. Here is what I noted:
21st November, 2023.
SC209694 Robin; Water Rail heard from right of pond; 6 x Chough flying over calling.
SC209693 Long-tailed Tit x 2; Water Rail heard from reed bed.
SC208694 Dunnock; Robin; Blackbird heard not seen.
SC209695 Robin.
please click on photos to enlarge them
