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a shady corner at Ballachurry Reserve
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Having been a little disappointed by my visit to the reserve on Tuesday, I decided to call in again on Friday on my way home from lunch with friends. I arrived around 1.30 and stayed 3 hours! Here is what I recorded:Birds:
SC209694 ( hide) Goldfinch x 3; Chaffinch, male.
SC209694 (elsewhere) Blackbird x 3; Wren; Robin heard not seen; Magpie heard not seen.
SC208694 Goldfinch flying over x 3 + 4 x Goldfinch feeding on grass seeds; Robin; Blue Tit x 2; Wren down on mud in stream.
SC208695 Blue Tit; Great Tit; Goldfinch; male Chaffinch ( all on or near feeder); male Blackbird; Robin.
SC210694 2 x Blackbird.
SC209695 Blackbird, male; Chaffinch x 2.
Butterflies:
SC209693 Speckled Wood x 2
SC208694 Speckled Wood x 4.
SC209695 Speckled Wood x 3.
SC209694 Speckled Wood x 4.
Other:
SC208694 Common Darter x 3 on Boardwalk.
SC209694 unidentified Dragonfly over main pond; 4 x Common Darter together on Ginnie's Bench.
SC209694 2 x adult Green Shieldbug + 4 nymphs ( various instars).
SC208695 Hawthorn Shieldbug nymph on Rowan berries.
SC209694 Harvestman on brambles. ( Dicranopalpus ramosus)
SC209694 3 unidentified spiders on brambles.
SC210694 unidentified fungi on edge of mini meadow - very dark spore print left on cap of one of them.
SC209695 Spiny Puffballs x 4.
SC208694 and throughout reserve, Craneflies frequent.
SC209695 Rabbit.
SC209695 "Footballer" Helophilus Hoverfly on Cushag/ Ragwort
SC208695 dead Wood Mouse on path (removed to undergrowth)
SC209694 Chrysomalid beetle, verified as Chrysolina banksii
SC210694 Jumping Spider ( Salticus scenicus)
SC210694 Noon Flies x 4.
SC209694 Water Crickets x 3.
SC209694 unidentified Slug eating apple.
SC209695 various Hoverflies on Cushag/ Ragwort.
SC209694 Pond Skaters x 3 and Greater Water Boatmen x 4.
SC210694 Wolf Spider.
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Blackbird near the path junction
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Blackbird along the old beehive loop
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Blackbird taking Rowan berries
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young Goldfinch eating grass seeds
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there were 4 of them altogether
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I watched them for some time
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| Robin |
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and another Robin elsewhere
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Great Tit
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| Goldfinch |
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Blue Tit
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Speckled Wood on boardwalk
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Speckled Wood near the Bowman bench
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this one was very camouflaged on the wood chip
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Speckled Wood enjoying Cushag nectar
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4 x Common Darter Dragonflies on Ginnie's bench
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a bright red male
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the wood is warm
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so it's a cosy place to rest
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they flew from time to time but then returned to the bench
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this one was on the boardwalk
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as was this one
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Chrysolina banksii leaf beetle
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Abundant Craneflies on the reserve
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Green Shieldbug
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Green Shieldbug nymphs
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a tiny Jumping Spider on the Noticeboard
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and a Wolf Spider in the vegetation
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Harvestman - probably Dicranopalpus ramosus
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Cushag / Ragwort providing late nectar for insects
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unknown Hoverfly
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Noon Fly
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Fungi in the mini meadow
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very dark spores had fallen on the cap below
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attractive rowan berries
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Angelica under the willows
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no dragonflies at the pond today
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and fewer Pond Skaters
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very little water in the main pool
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the vegetation is colonising it very rapidly now
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the reed bed from the hide
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usual view of the boardwalk from the meadow
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and usual view of the hide
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view from the boardwalk
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turn left for the boardwalk and right for the beehive loop
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the meadow from near the hide
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view from the ramp
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heading for the gate
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Altogether a better visit to the Reserve from a weather and wildlife point of view.
please click on photos to enlarge them
