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| Apple Blossom time at Ballachurry Reserve |
It's always interesting to visit the Reserve after a break for holidays. On this occasion it was amazing to see how much everything had grown, due no doubt to the recent summery weather. I'd heard on the grapevine (or rather via a WhatsApp Group) that the Sedge Warblers had returned, so I was really hoping to see/hear one on Thursday morning. The forecast for May Day was for sunshine and light, variable winds - sounded like a perfect morning - so I was surprised to find that I needed a coat and that it was blowing a strong North Westerly through the Fleshwick Gap! Probably as a result of this the birds were not perched atop the trees proclaiming their territories and were rather more difficult to spot but here is what I recorded:Birds:
SC210694 Willow Warbler heard not seen; Blackcap heard not seen.
SC209694 (hide) Warbler flew into reeds but too fast for identification; Pheasant heard not seen; Robin; Willow Warbler; Magpie flying over; female Blackbird flying over; male Chaffinch; female Blackcap.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) Chaffinch heard not seen near the path junction; Woodpigeon flying over; Mallard drake on dragonfly pond; Chiffchaff; Robin; House Sparrow; Great Tit; 2 x Goldfinch.
SC208694 Willow Warbler; Sedge Warbler ( ringed); Wren; Chiffchaff heard not seen; Great Tit; Long-tailed Tit.
SC208695 Robin; Blue Tit on feeder.
SC209695 Chiffchaff heard not seen; Woodpigeon flying over; Blue Tit; Goldfinch.
Butterflies:
SC210694 male Orange Tip; Green Veined White.
SC208694 Red Admiral; 2 x Speckled Wood together; male Orange Tip; Wall Brown; Peacock; 2 x Small White together; Green Veined White.
SC209694 Speckled Wood; unidentified White flying; male Orange Tip.
SC209695 Large White; male Orange Tip.
SC208695 Speckled Wood.
Other:
SC209694 Hairy Shieldbug on nettles.
SC208695 Common Earwig.
SC209695 2 x Chequered Weevil ( Liophloeus tessulatus) in separate Hogweed plants.
SC208695 2 x Syrphus species Hoverfly.
SC209694 Microchrysa species Soldier fly
SC208694 Rhingia campestris Hoverfly on Ladysmock flower.
SC208694 Honey bees on Dandelion.
SC209694 Rowan in flower here and throughout reserve.
SC209694 Hawthorn in flower and throughout reserve.
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| Robin on Ginnie's Bench |
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| Blue Tit on feeders which were otherwise empty |
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| Blue Tit near the Private entrance |
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| ChiffChaff |
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| Mallard Drake on the dragonfly pond |
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| Goldfinch |
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| A Robin with Holly? Christmas already? |
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| I thought this House Sparrow was taking moss |
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| but it turned out to be a fat caterpillar |
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| ringed Sedge Warbler singing |
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| then taking a breather |
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| it was near the boardwalk |
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| Willow Warbler, also near the boardwalk |
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| Wall Brown |
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| pristine Speckled Wood |
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| but this one was rather worse for wear |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Peacock also looking somewhat tattered |
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| Male Orange Tip showing patterned underwing |
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| Ladysmock is one of its caterpillar food plants |
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| really beautiful markings |
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| Garlic Mustard is another of its food plants |
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| Green Veined Whites also lay eggs on Garlic Mustard |
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| Honey Bees enjoying the dandelions |
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| Microchrysa species Soldier Fly |
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| Syrphus species Hoverfly |
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| An Eristalis pertinax Hoverfly |
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| a good wasp mimic - Syrphus species Hoverfly |
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| Rhingia campestris Hoverfly |
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| enjoying the Ladysmock |
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| a Common Earwig |
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| and a Hairy Shieldbug (aka Sloe Bug) |
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| Chequered Weevil ( Liophloeus tessulatus) |
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| Bog Bean in flower in the dragonfly pond |
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| Red Campion in flower on one side of the boardwalk |
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| and Ladysmock on the other |
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| Marsh Marigolds still going strong in the meadow |
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| close-up of Ladysmock, aka Cuckoo Flower |
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| Hemlock Water Dropwort coming into bloom |
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| Herb Robert flowering under the willows |
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| May Flowers on May Day |
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| Rowan in full bloom |
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| Stitchwort |
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| Apple Blossom |
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| the damp meadow with Apple Blossom |
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| meadow looking towards boardwalk |
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| bridge across to the Willow wood |
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| shadier now the Willows are in leaf |
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| but sunny spots where there is storm damage |
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| the reed bed still not very green |
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| the " reedy bend", as I call it |
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| usual view of hide |
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| and usual view from ramp - photo shows the sunny weather |
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| through the shutters - the pond continues to silt up / dry out |
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| Hemlock Water Dropwort growing vigorously now |
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| the dragonfly pond - dragons and damsels soon? |
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| stream fast vanishing beneath the Dropowort |
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| heading towards the Bowman bench |
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| Willow growing back where copiced |
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| start of the old beehive loop |
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| usual view from the boardwalk |
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| and the boardwalk itself |
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| very little water coming down the stream |
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| Gorse boundary or "Apple Blossom Walk"? |
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| Memorial cherry tree in bloom |
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| the new glade in the sunshine |
A very enjoyable (if chilly!) first May visit of the year.
(with thanks to Steve Crellin for fly identifications)
please click on photos to enlarge them
