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| Ballachurry Reserve main pond and mudflat |
Imagine my surprise on opening the hide shutters on Tuesday morning to see the Water Rail walking through the reeds towards the side of the pond! What a good start to my visit! A very brief view, admittedly, but the first time I've seen one at Ballachurry for a very long time. Nothing could top that! Or could it? Later as I approached the dragonfly pond from behind the dead hedge a Jack Snipe flew in, landed in the shallow water right next to the Marsh Marigolds, climbed up onto the bank and flew off again in a straight line between the trees. No time to take a photo unfortunately but Wow!! Here is my report, most of which looks very tame by comparison:
Birds:
SC210694 Dunnock; male Blackbird flew into ivy.
SC209694 (hide) Water Rail; 2 x Robin together; Pheasant heard not seen; Wren; female Blackbird.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) Jack Snipe at the dragonfly pond; male Chaffinch alternately preening and singing ; female Chaffinch in tree; Robin singing from top of tree; another Robin foraging on the ground; Robin in Blackthorn at path junction; Hooded Crow flying over; Magpie flying over; female & male Blackbirds in the ivy hedge; 2 x Jackdaw flying over; Wren heard not seen; Blue Tit.
SC208694 Blue Tit; female Chaffinch; 2 x Robins together; Chiffchaff heard not seen; Magpie flying over and later seen atop fir tree; 3 x Goldfinch flying over; 3 x Mallard flying over.
SC209695 Robin; Blue Tit.
SC208695 (on or near feeders) 2 x Long Tailed Tit ( one ringed); Robin; 2 x Dunnock together; 3 x Chaffinch; Blue Tit; Great Tit; Goldfinch; Greenfinch; Coal Tit.
Other:
SC209695 7spot Ladybird.
SC209694 Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (first Ballachurry butterfly I've seen 2025)
SC209694 Bumble bees in pussy willows.
SC209694 one clump of frogspawn but the rest has hatched into tiny tadpoles.
SC209694 Marsh Marigolds (aka Kingcups) now fully open.
SC208695 2 x Longtails scavenging under feeders.
SC209694 Several small pond snails in dragonfly pond.
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| male Blackbird in the hedge |
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| male Chaffinch |
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| it was preening between bursts of song |
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| female Chaffinch |
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| Dunnock scavenging below feeders |
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| Great Tit |
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| waiting its turn for the feeders |
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| Magpie |
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| ringed Long-tailed Tit |
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| Robin - now you hear me |
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| now you don't |
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| there seemed to be Robins everywhere |
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| this one was near the feeders |
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| the briefest glimpse of a Water Rail |
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| 7-spot Ladybird ( correct grid reference is SC209695) |
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| Small Tortoiseshell butterfly |
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| the 2 Longtails were active beneath the feeders |
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| this one appeared to be enjoying the sunshine from its doorstep |
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| Pond Snails in the dragonfly pond |
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| the remaining frogspawn |
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| hundreds of tadpoles! |
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| Marsh marigolds now in full flower |
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| Bumble Bee in the willows (Buff-tailed?) |
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| blue sky day! |
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| usual view of the hide but note green leaves on Hawthorn now |
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| usual view from the hide ramp |
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| through the shutters - the Rail had gone |
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| looking the opposite direction |
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| only a couple of inches of water over the silt now |
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| bridge leading to the willows |
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| the damp meadow |
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| no birds bathing in the stream today |
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| view from the boardwalk - a few clouds building up now |
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| looking back towards the meadow |
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| the dragonfly pond |
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| with a nice sunny bench |
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| from which to watch the wildlife |
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| gorse flowering profusely at present |
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| view along the reserve boundary |
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| the damp meadow |
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| and from a different angle |
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| view from the Bowman bench |
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| soon the stream will be invisible under vegetation |
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| near the compost area - a shady grove |
March is supposed to be the best month to see Water Rails and I was certainly very lucky.
An excellent visit!
please click on photos to enlarge them
