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| a February afternoon at Ballachurry Reserve |
On Tuesday it was more convenient for me to visit the Reserve in the afternoon, rather than my usual morning visit. It was a very grey, cold day with the temperature struggling to reach 6 Centigrade. Not really very good photographic weather. I arrived at 2 p.m and left at 4 p.m by which time the light was even worse and my camera kept advising me to "raise the flash" - not very practical advice outdoors. Here is my report:
Birds:
SC210694 Song Thrush ( not singing today) Blackbird.
SC209693 2 x House Sparrow; Woodpigeon flying over.
SC209694 ( from hide) Great Tit; Moorhen; Wren; Blackbird; 23 x Woodpigeon in Churchyard trees.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) 2 x Blackbirds at the path junction; 2 x Blackbirds near Dragonfly pond; Great Tit by dragonfly pond; Blue Tit; Jackdaw on roof of Old School House; Robin; 2 x Woodpigeon calling from trees on boundary with Old School House; 2 x Goldfinch at path junction; flock of 7 Goldfinch near the bird hide; 2 x Chaffinch bathing and drinking in stream. New cleared area: 3 x Blackbirds together 3 x Great Tit together; Robin.
SC208694 Blue Tit x 2; Goldfinch; Wren.
SC208695 ( feeders) Great Tit x 2; Blue Tit x 2 ; Coal Tit; 2 x Robin; Chaffinch x 3 ( 2 x females, 1 male) Dunnock foraging under feeders, took flight when surprised by sudden emergence at close quarters of Longtail from dead hedge!
Other:
2 x Longtails beneath feeders.
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| Blackbird, taken from gate as I entered Reserve |
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| this one was in the recently cleared area |
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| and another nearby on a pile of cleared branches |
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| Blackbirds seemed to be everywhere |
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| 1 of a pair on the willow hedge by the hide |
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| a ringed Blue Tit near the feeders |
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| Goldfinch near the feeders |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Wren seen from hide |
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| large flock of Woodpigeons seen from hide |
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| there were 2 male House Sparrows chirping in a Hawthorn bush |
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| Robin |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Chaffinch |
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| a pair of chaffinches bathing |
The chaffinches preceded their bath by repeatedly dipping into the water like swallows. Were they drinking ? Or testing the depth? Or maybe testing the temperature? Here is a short video of them bathing.The female is off to the left mostly hidden by vegetation.
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| the Longtails were out scavenging beneath the feeders |
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| a Dunnock got the fright of its life when this one suddenly emerged |
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| usual photos of the dragonfly pond |
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| still no frogspawn |
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| usual hide photo |
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| hide area looking smart with new woodchip and laid hedge |
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| view from the ramp on a cold, grey day |
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| view through the shutters |
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| the Moorhen put in a very brief appearance but I didn't get a photo |
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| usual view of the board walk |
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| a much more open view of the stream now |
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| view from the boardwalk |
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| the meadow |
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| I've learnt that the new dam is to help prevent silt build-up in pond |
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the new cleared area is popular with the birds ( see report)
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| new look path junction |
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| a wintry looking reserve |
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| reeds not looking so golden today |
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| in winter you can see the pond from the willow wood |
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| looking back as I left - the Blackbird was still there. |
A chilly but enjoyable visit!
please click on photos to enlarge them
