Ballachurry Reserve : Monday ,19th February, 2024.

Ballachurry Wetlands living up to its name

   I missed my visit to Ballachurry Reserve last week because of other commitments so it was interesting to see how things had changed in a fortnight. There had been an enormous amount of rain during the week I missed and this was apparent by the amount of standing water on the Reserve and depth of mud on the paths!  On the plus side the Blackthorn is starting to flower, the birds are definitely singing and, best of all, there was frogspawn in  the new pond for the first time! Here is what I recorded on Monday afternoon:

 Birds:  

SC209693   Robin heard not seen; Male Pheasant flying in;  Long-tailed Tit; Blackbird flying  across path; Magpie flying over.

SC209694 ( hide)  Moorhen; Wren; Blue Tit x 3 together; Woodpigeon x 2;  female Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Siskin;  Magpie heard not seen; 3 x Long-tailed Tit.

SC209694 ( elsewhere) Blue Tit;  2 x Great Tit; male and female Blackbird;  Wren; Chaffinch; 2 x male House Sparrow; Robin;  Long-tailed Tit; Coal Tit. 

SC208694  19 x Woodpigeon flying over; 4 x Long-tailed Tit; Great Tit; Blue Tit;  Redwing; Large flock of starlings flying over; female Chaffinch;  Goldfinch.

Other:

SC209694 3 x clumps of frogspawn  in new pond 🐸

SC209694 and elsewhere Lesser Celandines in flower

SC209694 and elsewhere Blackthorn in flower

SC209694 Dandelions in flower

SC210694 Snowdrops and Snowflakes in flower (planted before the area was a nature reserve)

SC209694 Daffodils in flower (planted before the area was a nature reserve)

these  2 Blue Tits were occasionally joined by a third

in fact there seemed to be Blue Tits everywhere on Monday

searching for food at the back of the pond

this one is ringed

Blackbird

The Greenfinch refused to look at me!

Long-tailed Tit

a good view of the long tail

the Moorhen was out swimming

and foraging in the weed

the Redwing was difficult to spot in the Alder

the red feathers are just about visible here

More red feathers! Robin.

I could hear the sparrows chattering but it took me ages to spot this one

later they ventured out of the hedge

House Sparrow

Wren, just in front of the hide

lengthening catkins and last year's cones on the Alder

Blackthorn in flower

Blackthorn blossom

Lesser Celandines

cultivated Daffodills

Dandelions

Please be kind to dandelions! They are an amazing source of nectar for wildlife early in the year when there is not a lot else around. Try to leave some in your garden for the bees if you can - they do look pretty among the grass after all!

Hemlock Water Dropwort really growing now

Snowdrops

garden escape Snowflakes

Blackthorn sprouting where it was cut back earlier

the pond was really muddy after the rain

the first  frogspawn since the pond was built

standing water under the willows near the road

and over the little bridge

muddy path beyond the boardwalk

and where the Blackthorn was cut back

 🎜"If you're going 

  to Balla - Churry

Be sure to wear 

some wellies on your feet........"🎝 

(with apologies to John Phillips /Scott McKenzie, 1967!)

this wood chip may help deal with the problem at the next Work Party.

 

usual view from the board walk

the Ash walk

taken from near Ginnie's Bench

the furthest point of the old Beehive loop

where stream meets the pond

usual view through the shutters

and looking the other direction

Blackthorn blossom and reeds

view from the bridge

still not quite spring yet

usual view of the hide

and looking back from the meadow

the meadow is very wet

it couldn't be cut in the autumn unfortunately

usual view from the ramp

time to go home

If you would like to help to spread this wood chip along the muddy paths then do come along on Saturday 24th February between 10 and 1. There will be other tasks too, something for everyone.  Sustaining cake will be provided but please bring your own hot drinks (and wellies, of course!) Contact ballachurrybashers22@gmail.com for further details.

please click on photos to enlarge them