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Christmas Eve, Ballachurry Reserve.
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My first impression on arriving at the Reserve on Tuesday morning was that Santa had left the Southern Volunteers an early Christmas present! A very large load of wood chip to be spread along the paths in 2025. With recent storms bringing down trees all over the Island, I imagine there is no shortage of chip for this sort of work at present! The strong wind had dropped by Tuesday but it remained cloudy for most of the morning with a mild temperature of about 12 degrees. Here is what I recorded:Birds:
SC208694 Magpie; Jackdaw flying over; Wren; Robin; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Goldcrest; Coal Tit.
SC209694 ( from hide) Grey Wagtail; Moorhen; Heron x 2; Blackbird x 2; Blue Tit x 2; Great Tit; male & female Chaffinch; Goldfinch x 3; Robin; Wren.
SC209694 (elsewhere) Blackbird x 2; Robin; Pheasant heard not seen; Greenfinch x 3; Blue Tit x 2; Goldfinch x 5.
SC209694, 5 x Blackbirds in field adjacent to Reserve
SC208695 ( on or near feeders) Robin x 2; Great Tit x 3; Blue Tit x 3; Coal Tit; male & female Chaffinch.
SC209695 c.30 x Goldfinch flying round & alighting from time to time; c.40 x Redwing flying round & alighting from time to time.
SC209695 My husband, who left a little later than myself, also saw a Song Thrush and a flock of Woodpigeons.
Other:
SC208695 2 x Long-tails under the feeders.
SC209694 Celandine in flower.
SC209694 unidentified Lichen on tree near dragonfly pond.
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male Blackbird
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3 of 5 Blackbirds just outside the Reserve in the adjoining field
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| Goldfinch |
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there were 5 flying around together, alighting from time to time
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male Greenfinch
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they are handsome birds
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female Greenfinch
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they were sitting in the hedge outside the hide
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Great Tit
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and another elsewhere
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Robin sifting through the woodchip
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I first spotted it on the bridge handrail
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just 1 of a much bigger flock of Redwings
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| Moorhen |
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| Wren |
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and a few shots of the Grey Wagtail
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I filled up the feeders and soon they were busy - Great Tit
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| Goldfinch |
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Coal Tit
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Blue Tit
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the Longtails were back beneath the feeders
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what beady eyes!
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Although perhaps viewed as unwelcome visitors, it's important to remember that they are part of the food chain and one reason why those birds of prey are seen over the Reserve! |
Hazel Catkins
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| Celandine |
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close-up of Lichen
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it's growing on Rowan tree near the dragonfly pond
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the dragonfly pond
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from both directions
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lots of tiny snails were visible
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usual view of the boardwalk
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the fallen tree has changed the view slightly
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view from boardwalk - no blue sky today
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the "damp" meadow!
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usual view of the hide
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| through the shutters looking right |
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| through the shutters looking left, |
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view from the hide ramp
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looking across the meadow
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that handrail Robin is in this picture!
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present from Santa?
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promise of hard work to come, I think!
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Probably my last visit of the year. What wildlife will 2025 bring, I wonder?
please click on photos to enlarge them
