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| Ballachurry Wetlands Reserve, mid July. |
I had not been to the Reserve for 3 weeks because of other commitments, so was looking forward to my Wednesday morning visit to see how things might have changed. I arrived at 9.15 on a beautiful, sunny morning. Opening up the hide shutters, I was surprised to see lots of activity with birds flying in and out of the reeds and walking amongst the lily pads. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC210694 juvenile Blackbird on path.
SC209693 Wren; Woodpigeon heard not seen; 2 x Rooks flying over.
SC209694 (hide) Chiffchaffs x 4 landing on reeds, lily pads and adjoining vegetation; male Chaffinch; juvenile Dunnock; 3 x Goldfinch; 2 x Blackbirds taking unripe Rowan berries; 3 x Magpies flying over together; Woodpigeon flying over; Sedge warbler briefly heard not seen.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) Blackcap heard not seen; Wren heard not seen; female Chaffinch; Pheasant heard not seen; Goldfinch .
SC208694 Blackcap heard not seen; Chiffchaff heard not seen; juvenile Robin; Woodpigeon flying over; single Swallow flying over.
SC208695 Blackbird alarm call heard; Blackcap heard not seen.
Butterflies & Moths:
SC209694 Meadow Brown x 3; unidentified White flying; unidentified micro moth.
SC208694 Meadow Brown.
SC209695 Silver Y Moth; Meadow Brown.
SC208695 Dark Green Fritillary flying; Speckled Wood; Meadow Brown.
SC209693 Meadow Brown x 2.
Other:
SC209694 Nursery Web Spider on nursery web x 2.
SC209693 2 x Inkcap Fungi on path.
SC208694 2 x unidentified fungi under willows.
SC209693 Crane Fly.
SC209693 Common Darter on rushes.
SC208694 Common Darter x 2 on bridge handrail.
SC209694 Common Darter flying over main pool.
SC209694 Conjoined pair of Common Darter egg laying in new pond + another Common Darter on rock.SC208694 Nursery Web Spider web.
SC208695 Depressaria daucella caterpillar on Hogweed.
SC209695 various Hoverflies, including Marmalade Fly on Hogweed.
SC209695 Nursery Web Spider web.
SC208694 dead Rabbit visible under Hawthorns.
SC208695 Common Darter.
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| there were 4 Chiffchaffs flitting about together |
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| looking for insects among the high and dry pond weed |
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| and the waterlilies |
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| a juvenile Dunnock was doing likewise |
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| Goldfinch near the hide |
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| Silver Y moth resting |
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| unidentified small moth |
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| one of several Meadow Brown Butterflies |
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| moth caterpillar on Hogweed |
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| Common Darter among the rushes |
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| this one landed on the brambles |
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| male Common Darter on bridge handrail |
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| and a female later |
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| the dragonfly pond |
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| and from the opposite end |
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| male Common Darter dipping the female into the water |
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| to lay her eggs |
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| they were there some time |
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| meanwhile a singleton male |
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| rested on stones between short flights |
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| pond life - Greater Water Boatman and Pond Snails |
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| Crane Fly - possibly Nephrotoma flavipalpis |
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| Hoverfly - Eristalis species? |
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| Marmalade Hoverfly |
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| we have lift-off! |
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| Bumble bee species on Marsh Woundwort |
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| Nursery Web Spider on her nursery web |
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| fungi starting to appear in the wood |
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| another also under the willows |
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| Inkcaps on the wood chip path |
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| a good stand of Marsh Woundwort |
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| I hope it is bad weather and not disease affecting this Rowan |
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| others nearby are healthy |
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| Willowherb and Birch |
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| Ivy colonising tree - good for wildlife |
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| Hawkbit I think |
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| path to the hide - reeds now very high |
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| difficult to see the hide from this spot now |
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| some shots of the meadow |
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| with creamy Meadowsweet |
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| and purple Loosestrife |
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| usual view from the hide ramp |
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| stream from the boardwalk |
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| view from the boardwalk |
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| hide seen across meadow from boardwalk |
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| mid summer look to the turf roof |
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| heading for the gate now |
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| a fresh load of chip suggests another work party soon! |
please click on photos to enlarge them
