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| the Dragonfly Pond, Ballachurry Reserve. |
It is always interesting to visit the Reserve again after missing one of my weekly visits and Wednesday was no exception. More water in the pond, grass paths neatly mown, and vegetation flattened by recent bad weather were my first impressions. The dull, windy weather meant my expectations were somewhat low but nevertheless I recorded some interesting wildlife:
Birds:
SC209693 Chiffchaff heard not seen:
SC209694 (hide) Juvenile Blackbird taking Rowan berries; female Blackcap taking Rowan berries; 2 x juvenile Goldfinches in vegetation; 3 x adult Goldfinches flying over; Woodpigeon heard not seen.
SC209694 (elsewhere) Chaffinch heard not seen; Blackbird heard not seen; male Pheasant walking along Gorse Boundary path; Buzzard.
SC208694 Blue Tit; Robin; Chaffinch heard not seen; 2 x Buzzard overhead calling, one almost landed in a tree close to Boardwalk which I was crossing at the time, so it changed its mind! 2 x Swallows flying over.
SC208695 3 x Woodpigeon flew away at my approach; Pheasant heard not seen.
SC209695 Blackbird taking Rowan berries; Buzzard overhead calling.
SC210694 Wren flew up from ground vegetation into tree.
Butterflies: (when sun came out briefly!)
SC209695 3 x Speckled Wood together.
SC209693 Speckled Wood.
SC209694 Speckled Wood x 2.
Other:
SC209695 various Hoverflies on Cushag/Ragwort including Eristalis and Helophilus species.
SC209693 various unidentified flies on recent dog mess on path ( Dogs are not allowed but we have an antisocial person regularly walking a dog on the Reserve recently).
SC209693 unidentified fungus appearing in a clump.
SC208695 3 x Pestle Puffball fungi
SC208694 clump of fungi appearing under the willows.
SC209695 Craneflies here and throughout reserve
SC209694 Greater Water Boatmen x 3
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| I opened the hide shutters to see a Blackbird on the berries opposite |
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| it was a juvenile bird |
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| enjoying a tasty treat |
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| it did not have the berries to itself |
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| a female Blackcap was also enjoying the feast |
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| two young Goldfinches were nearby |
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| juvenile Goldfinch |
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| Robin |
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| two Buzzards over the Reserve |
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| no sunshine to light up the photo |
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| but these are record shots |
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| the blur is the buzzard - shows how low it came |
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| Speckled Wood |
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| and another elsewhere |
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| this one flew up into a Hazel bush from the path |
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| Hemp Agrimony |
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| Helophilus "Footballer" Hoverfly |
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| another species of Hoverfly |
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| this one was an Eristalis species , I think |
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| yet another species of Hoverfly |
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| this one had a flatter body |
I apologise for the next two photos! Try to focus on the flies and not what they are feasting on. Nothing goes to waste in nature!
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| there really is no excuse - the regulations are clear |
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| there are Crane Flies throughout the Reserve |
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| the Dragonfly Pond |
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| view of pond from the bench |
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| a Backswimmer Water Boatman but no dragonflies today |
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| fungi is starting to appear on the reserve paths |
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| and under the willows |
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| these were under vegetation near the entrance |
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| Pestle Puffball |
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| they seem to fall over under their own weight |
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| phone shows scale |
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| near where the puffballs occur |
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| and looking in the other direction |
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| mown grass near the Bowman Bench |
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| Cushag /Ragwort is excellent for insects |
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| looking into the Reserve from the Private entrance |
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| and another view from the same direction |
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| usual view approaching the boardwalk |
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| the Hemlock Water Dropwort is now over and dying away |
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| usual view from the boardwalk - no blue sky today |
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| looking back to the hide over the meadow |
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| hide becoming visible again as the Dropwort collapses |
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| usual view from the hide ramp |
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| Loosestrife round the pond |
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| the reeds are flowering too |
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| entrance to the willow wood across the bridge |
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| and looking the other way towards the meadow |
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| the stream from the bridge |
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| Alder cones forming in profusion |
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| Hogweed seeds and Oak leaves with Powdery Mildew |
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| Ox-eye daisies near the dragonfly pond |
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| approaching the meadow |
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| Sneezewort among the rushes and grass |
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| Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil |
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| mown path through the Reserve |
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| reeds overhanging the path - brought down by recent weather |
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| don't forget to check the noticeboard for events |
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| Midday - time to close down the shutters and go home |
There is a work party scheduled for this coming Saturday (24th August) between 10 and 1 o'clock, Details from ballachurrybashers22@gmail.com if you would like to join us. New volunteers are always welcome.
please click on photos to enlarge them
