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a cold January day at Ballachurry Reserve,
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Definitely not a blue-sky day today! But it was dry and with "only" a strong South-westerly wind, it seemed like my best option of the week for visiting Ballachurry Wetlands. I say "only" because there have been two named storms since my last visit (Isha and Jocelyn) and with rain thrown in on the other days too. So I was anxious to see if any damage had occurred on the Reserve. I'm pleased to say that no trees were down and that Ginnie's Bench had not broken despite being blown over. There was a lot of standing water under the trees and along the paths though, but then it is supposed to be a Wetland Reserve. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC209693 Robin; 3 x Blackbirds flew across the path together.
SC209694 ( Hide) Robin; 2 x Woodpigeon in Churchyard trees; 2 x Jackdaw in Churchyard trees; male Blackbird; 3 x Blue Tit together; another 2 Blue Tit close behind them; Moorhen; 2 x Great Tit together; 4 x Goldfinch; Greenfinch; Goldcrest. Magpie flying over.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) Wren ; Blackbird ; 2 x Great Tit; Blue Tit; 2 x Long-tailed Tit; 2x Siskin; Coal Tit; male Chaffinch; Heron flying over; 4 x Redwing in trees at Old School House flew into Reserve. Mistle Thrush seen in adjacent field; large flock of c.30 Goldfinch flew from trees at Old School House into and across reserve.
SC208694 3 x Blue Tit together; Chaffinch and Robin heard but not seen; Wren; Rook flying over.
SC209695 Woodcock flushed; 8 x Goldfinch; Magpie heard not seen.
Other:
SC209694 Celandines in flower.
SC209693 Celandines in flower.
SC210694 Garden escape Snowflake in flower.
SC209694 Pond Snails visible on rock under the water.
SC209694 and SC208694 Hawthorn in full leaf!
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Blue tit near the hide
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a very lively Goldcrest
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hard to photograph at a distance
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| Goldfinch |
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Great Tit near the hide - note ring
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2 for the price of 1 - backs resolutely turned
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visible from the Reserve, though not in it - Mistle Thrush
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Moorhen has just finished preening
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so out onto the water to swim and feed
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Four Redwings flew into the Reserve from next door
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these are very distant shots, by the way
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but the red under the wing is clearly visible
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Celandines appearing throughout the reserve
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pushing their way through the bracken
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garden escape Snowflakes near the gate
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approaching the boardwalk
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the main stream from the boardwalk
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usual view from the board walk - no blue sky today
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all quiet at the dragonfly pond
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but water snails visible below the water on the rocks
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taken from the bridge
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under the willows the unofficial pond grows larger
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pond looking left
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pond looking right
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usual view from the ramp
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a very damp meadow
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the inlet stream
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the mature trees on the boundary
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a winter view of the hide from the willows
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looking back to the hide from the boardwalk
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the recently widened paths are very wet
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in both directions
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water under the willows near the gate
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On Saturday ( 20th) there was a Work Party at the reserve. I intended going along to help but circumstances got in the way (not to mention the weather!) and in the end I did not make it. However, those more intrepid than myself and considerably less wimpish put in a lot of effort to cut back brambles and willow and make a couple more dead hedges with the resultant debris. Here are a few photos of their achievements.
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ever encroaching brambles cut back near the ash walk
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hang on a minute - this looks different!
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| yes! a new dead hedge |
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something different here too
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another dead hedge - excellent for invertebrates and small mammals
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willows coppiced near the hide
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distant view of coppiced willows
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Well done to all the Volunteers on Saturday and a big thank you.
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12.30 - time to close the shutters and head home for lunch
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please click on photos to enlarge them
