Ballachurry Reserve: Tuesday, 26th December, 2023 - Boxing Day.

An unplanned Boxing Day visit to the Reserve.

 

Originally I had Thursday penciled in for a visit to Ballachurry but I changed my plans when  Boxing Day dawned bright and sunny and they forecast showers for Thursday. I didn't get a very early start but still enjoyed a couple of hours there. Here is my report:

Birds:

SC209694 ( Hide)   Moorhen; Water Rail heard; male Blackbird; Hooded Crow; Woodpigeon; Robin; 3 x Rooks; 20 Goldfinches flying over; Goldcrest; Wren.

SC209694 ( elsewhere)   2 x Magpie flying over; Great Tit flying over; Robin seen in three different locations;  3 x Blackbirds together; female Chaffinch; Wren; Woodpigeon flying over; Redwing.

SC208694  Robin; Blackbird; Wren.

SC208695 Woodpigeon flying over; Robin; Jackdaw; male and female Chaffinch.

Other:

SC208694 there is an orange fungus rust or lichen growing on the trunk of one of the willows.

SC208694 and SC209694  Hogweed plants in flower

SC209694 Hemlock Water Dropwort has come through where Blackthorn was cleared.

Chaffinch at the path junction

and  another elsewhere

Blackbird near the new pond

I spotted this Redwing across the meadow as I left the hide

a closer view

Goldcrest - our smallest bird from a great distance!

Jackdaw, also from a distance

one of three Wrens seen during the morning

 

I was determined to see some Wrens this morning as Boxing Day is associated with the Hunt the Wren  (Shelg yn Drean)  tradition in the Isle of Man. Live Wrens are no longer hunted but songs are sung, dances danced or, in my case, Wrens are photographed and recorded! 

 

at first sight, nothing on the water

but on closer inspection...........

a Moorhen was foraging both round the pond edges

and in the water

there were plenty Robins about - this one near the new pond

and this one at the path junction - very seasonal!

a splendid blue sky when I arrived about 11 oclock

usual view from the ramp of the hide

I walked through the meadow

headed for the bridge across the stream

where the willows were still flooded in places

there was no bird activity near the compost heap

but I noticed this orange rust on a willow trunk

a closer view - fungus or lichen?

there was also Hogweed in flower under the willows

I crossed back into the meadow

and looked back from the boardwalk

can you see the tiny white dot in the stream?

a golf ball had washed down from somewhere!

view from the Boardwalk -clouds building up now

I lingered by the Bowman bench but there was nothing about

so I walked on along the boundary

and noted more Hogweed in flower

Blackbird and Robin noted here but no aquatic life

 I carried on towards the entrance

and turned down the direct path to the hide

where Hemlock Water Dropwort is coming through

back at the hide I sat awhile

the Water Rail was calling but didn't emerge

so time to close down the shutters and go home for lunch

Almost certainly my last visit of the month and of the year - what will 2024 bring?

please click on photos to enlarge

Ballachurry Reserve: Tuesday, 19th December, 2023.

a blue-sky, winter's day at Ballachurry Reserve

   It was a blue-sky day with a strong, icy wind on Tuesday. I walked round the Reserve for half an hour without seeing or hearing a single bird!  I suspect they were all keeping warm deep in the vegetation or were away on garden bird feeders for an easy meal.  The temperature rose slightly towards midday giving only a slight improvement in bird numbers. Nevertheless I enjoyed my morning. Here is my report:

Birds:

SC208694 Robin heard not seen; Blackbird glimpsed;  20 x Woodpigeon  flying over, possibly spooked by 2 Buzzards; Sparrowhawk; Goldfinch.

SC208695 Chaffinch heard not seen; Dunnock.

SC209694 ( hide)  2 pairs of Mallard bathing and preening; Moorhen; Wren heard but not seen; Magpie in churchyard trees; Water Rail heard not seen;  3 x Blue Tit; Female or juvenile Blackbird flying through;

SC209694 ( elsewhere) 2 x Blackbirds together; 2 x Rooks & 2 x Jackdaws in Old School House trees.

Other:

SC209694 Gnat species

SC208695 King Alfred Cakes fungi  (Daldinia concentrica) on dead ash tree NEW RECORD  (found once before but was detached and floating down stream after a storm)

SC208694 Several Woodlice hibernating under rotting wood.

SC209693 Hazels have small catkins.

SC209694 Alders have small catkins.

Blue Tit

Goldfinch

Moorhen and Malllards

Moorhen

 

Mallard Drake

The Mallards were bathing ..............

then preening

then it was time to snooze

Hibernating Woodlice didn't wake up when photographed

some species of Gnat

King Arthur's Cakes fungus

they do indeed look like burnt cakes!

Hazel Catkins, still very small

sunshine and shadow

2023 will be remembered for completion of the Board Walk

the gorse bush flowers on valiantly!

no pond life visible today

looking along the boundary path

usual view of the hide

just Alders and blue sky

usual view of the meadow which has been too wet to cut

usual view from the ramp

reed bed from hide

And finally.......

Wishing you all a very happy festive season.

please click on photos to enlarge them