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| a "snowy scene " at Ballachurry Reserve |
Back to my usual morning visit this week on another beautiful, sunny day. I strolled round for three and a half hours, would you believe! I heard more than I saw in the way of birds as the leaves give them cover at this time of year and it was frustrating at times to hear them so close without being able to see them. Here is what I recorded: Birds:
SC209693 Chaffinch heard not seen.
SC209694 ( hide) Willow Warbler heard not seen; Greylag Goose heard not seen (probably flying over?); Chaffinch heard not seen.
SC209694 Goldfinch heard not seen; male Blackbird flying over seen several times; Woodpigeon flying over; Hooded Crow flying over; Blackcap heard not seen; Wren heard not seen; Chiffchaff heard not seen; Magpie flying over; Sedge Warbler heard on Gorse boundary and at path junction; Swallow flying over.
SC208694 Magpie in top of fir tree; Woodpigeon sitting on handrail of boardwalk; Willow Warbler; Chaffinch singing from treetop; ringed Sedge Warbler; Robin heard not seen; Chiffchaff heard not seen; Blackbird flying over; Kestrel.
SC208695 Chiffchaff heard not seen; Blackbird flying across path; Wren; Blackcap heard not seen;
Butterflies and Moths:
SC208695 Silver Ground Carpet Moth; Green Veined White.
SC209695 Large White; male Orange Tip.
SC209694 abundant Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars on nettles; 2 x Green Veined White; Wall Brown; unidentified micromoth.
SC208694 4 x Green Veined White.
SC210694 Green Veined White.
Other:
SC209695 Galls on oak leaves.
SC209694 Pond Skaters, Greater Water Boatmen, Pond Snails and Whirlygig Beetle (NEW RECORD) .
SC209694 7-spot Ladybird and 2 larvae in the grass.
SC210694 Hairy Shieldbug.
SC209694 Hairy Shieldbug on dandelion.
SC209694 Marmalade Hoverfly.
SC208695 Picture Wing Fly on Hogweed ( Euleia heraclei ) NEW RECORD
SC208695 Crane Fly species
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| Blackbird in birch tree by Hide |
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| male Chaffinch near the bridge |
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| Magpie on its favourite perch |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Sedge Warbler - same ringed individual as previously |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Silver Ground Carpet Moth |
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| unidentified moth |
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| larval webs of the Bird Cherry Ermine Moth |
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| Green Veined White on Cuckoo Flower/ Ladysmock |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars on nettles |
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| 7-spot Ladybird Larva |
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| 7-spot Ladybird Larva |
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| 7-spot Ladybird |
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| pond snails under water |
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| Whirlygig beetle, Backswimmer and Pond Skater |
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| Marmalade Hoverfly |
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| Picture Wing Fly on Hogweed |
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| Euleia heraclei |
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| Crane Fly |
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| Hairy Shieldbug |
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| galls caused by insect on back of Oak leaves |
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| not a bunch of grapes! galls on Oak |
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| willow seed looking like snow under the willows |
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| willow seed caught on branches, webs, everywhere! |
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| it was really thick in places |
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| the path through the willows was totally white |
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| bridge surrounded by Hemlock Water Dropwort |
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buttercups in full flower
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| regular view of the boardwalk |
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| and usual view from the boardwalk |
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| boardwalk from the meadow |
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| the dragonfly pond |
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| still no damselflies seen, but can't be long now |
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| a veritable sea of Dropwort near the hide |
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| Dropwort in flower |
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| developing sloes on the Blackthorn |
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| Sycamore flowers turning into seeds | |
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usual view of the hide
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| farewell until next time |
and to finish, a short video of those Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars
with thanks to Garry Curtis for identifying the caterpillars and to Steve Crellin for the Picture Wing Fly.
please click on photos to enlarge them
