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| the dragonfly pond on an early spring day |
A later start than usual for me at Ballachurry on Tuesday, as I was busy elsewhere until 11.30. Earlier in the week I'd heard reports from other birders of Siskins, Goldcrests, a Chiffchaff and even of the elusive Water Rail putting in a rare appearance there. I was not so lucky but I did have a lovely view of a Grey Wagtail from the hide. I also saw my first Ballachurry Ladybird of the year just as I was leaving. Here is my report:
Birds:
SC210694 Blackbird flying across & another eating ivy berries; 2 x Woodpigeons flying over; 2 x Goldfinch flying over.
SC209694 ( hide) Grey Wagtail; 3 x Goldfinch; Pheasant heard not seen; Robin; male Blackbird; 3 x Jackdaw in Churchyard trees.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) 3 x Goldfinch drinking and bathing in stream; 2 x Jackdaw on Old School House chimney; 2 x Robin; 2 x Blackbird; Great Tit heard not seen;
SC208694 Robin heard not seen; Woodpigeon flying over; Goldfinches heard not seen; 2 x Blue Tit; Goldfinch; Blackbird,
SC208695 ( feeders) 3 x Chaffinch; 3 x Great Tit; 2 x Blue Tit; 2 x Coal Tit; Greenfinch; 6 x Goldfinch.
SC208695 ( elsewhere) male Pheasant; Buzzard seen outside reserve from this point; Great Tit.
Other:
SC209695 Honey Bee in Gorse.
SC210694 Honey Bee on Celandine.
SC208695 2 x Longtails under feeders.
SC210694 7-spot Ladybird.
SC208695 unidentified Bumble Bee flying.
SC209694 unidentified pupae on noticeboard still in place.
SC209693 tiny red female flowers on the Hazel bushes.
SC208694 Blackthorn in flower (late this year)
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| hungry Goldfinch |
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| this Goldfinch was bathing in the stream |
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| this one was drinking from its perch |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| a ringed male Chaffinch |
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| Blackbird near the hide |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| I thought it might bathe but it changed its mind |
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| Robin on Ginnie's Bench |
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| Great Tit |
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| first 7-spot Ladybird of 2025 at Reserve |
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| Honey Bee on Celandine |
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| Honey Bee on Gorse |
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| unknown pupae on noticeboard |
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| Long-tail scavenging beneath feeders |
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| additional frogspawn in pond this week |
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| Blackthorn suddenly in flower |
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| Blackthorn blossom |
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| Marsh Marigolds still not fully open |
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| a large patch of Celandines |
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| tiny red female Hazel flower with male catkins |
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| "the reedy bend" |
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| usual view of the hide |
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| view from the hide ramp |
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| looking through the shutters |
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| nothing on the water today |
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| looking across the meadow |
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| and in another direction |
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| heading for the boardwalk |
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| stream will soon disappear behind Hemlock Water Dropwort |
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| view from the boardwalk ramp |
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| walking towards the Bowman bench |
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| daffodils on the boundary |
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| a defiant daffodil in the Reserve - many were removed last year |
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| new reeds will soon start to show |
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| a much more open compost area since recent storms |
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| full leaf Hawthorn near the bridge |
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| and Blackthorn in blossom across the stream |
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| this Blog post started with a dragonfly pond photo, so ends here full circle. |
please click on photos to enlarge them
