 |
| July, Ballachurry Reserve - Marsh Woundwort. |
Although I paid a brief visit to the Reserve with my grandchildren on 3rd July ( please see photos at the end of this post), it was two weeks since my last recording visit. I noticed some work had been done to clear the bridge of Hemlock Water Dropwort which made access to the Willow Wood considerably easier. After a cloudy start the sun came out for a while and with it the butterflies too. Here is what I recorded: Birds:
SC210694 Song Thrush with cherry in beak ( and there were 3 cherry stones on the nearby handrail too)
SC209694 ( hide) 2 x Juvenile Blackbirds taking Rowan berries; 2 x Willow Warbler together hunting insects; Woodpigeon flying over; Rook heard not seen; Wren; 2 x Swallows sweeping down over pond ( although vegetation was too high to see if there is still water in the pond)
SC209694 ( elsewhere ) Blackcap heard not seen; Woodpigeon; male Blackbird on path; Chiffchaff heard not seen.
SC208694 Chiffchaff heard not seen; Woodpigeon; male & female Chaffinch; Blackbird heard not seen; 3 x Long-tailed Tit; 2 x Blue Tit; Robin; Wren heard not seen; Willow Warbler; Blackcap heard not seen.
SC208695 Chaffinch heard not seen; Wren; Chiffchaff heard not seen;
Butterflies:
SC209693 Speckled Wood.
SC208694 3 x Green Veined White emerged from Hemlock Water Dropwort together as the sun broke through.
SC208695 Green Veined White; Meadow Brown.
SC209695 2 x Speckled Wood; Meadow Brown.
SC209694 Meadow Brown x 5; Speckled Wood; Red Admiral; Small White.
SC210694 Large White.
Other:
SC209693 Nursery Web Spider web ( no sign of Spider)
SC210694 Nursery Web Spider web ( no sign of Spider)
SC208695 Marmalade Fly.
SC208695 Prickly Sow Thistle is now taller than I am!
SC209694 several Greater Water Boatmen; several Pond Skaters; many small snails.
SC209694 Pleated Inkcap + other unidentified toadstools.
SC208694 Noon Fly.
SC210694 2 x 7-spot Ladybird.
SC209694 7-spot Ladybird on vegetation on pond liner.
SC209694 Hoverfly species.
 |
| two Willow Warblers were foraging across the pond |
 |
| photographed from the hide |
 |
| this particular willow was attracting the birds - a Long-tailed Tit |
 |
| a female Chaffinch |
 |
| a Blue Tit |
 |
| and a Willow Warbler |
 |
| juvenile Blackbird taking berries -seen from hide |
 |
| a very ragged Speckled Wood |
 |
| this one was in better condition |
 |
| Meadow Brown on Great Willowherb |
 |
| Meadow Brown |
 |
| this one was rather faded |
 |
| Green Veined White |
 |
| Large White - note the distinguishing black "right angles" |
 |
| Hoverfly on Hogweed |
 |
| Marmalade fly |
 |
| Nursery Web of a Pisaura mirabilis spider |
 |
| a couple of pond snails under the water |
 |
| the wasp nest is now protruding through the box entrance! |
 |
| I was not expecting to see a 7-spot in the pond! |
 |
| the Ladybirds by the gate were no surprise though |
 |
| 7-spot Ladybird |
 |
| there were Inkcaps along the path |
 |
| new season Alder cones developing |
 |
| ripening Sycamore Keys |
 |
| Prickly Sow Thistle continues to grow |
 |
| Hemp Agrimony flowers starting to open |
 |
| a tranquil scene at the dragonfly pond |
 |
| an inviting bench from which to pond watch |
 |
| the usual reedy bend photo - could be the jungle! |
 |
| spot the hide! |
 |
| through the shutters - any water? |
 |
| usual ramp view - hill fog today! |
 |
| the meadow continues to look pretty...... |
 |
| with Meadowsweet, |
 |
| Purple Loosestrife, |
 |
| and golden patches of Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil |
 |
| an insect eye view of the meadow |
 |
| heading for the boardwalk |
 |
| boardwalk view of the hill fog |
 |
| sun breaking through along the gorse boundary |
 |
| path through the bracken |
 |
| always check the board for Southern Group events! |
And..........
Some photos from a short visit with Grandchildren on 3rd July:
 |
| Froglets in the dragonfly pond |
 |
| Small Tortoiseshell butterfly |
 |
| Inkcap toadstool |
 |
| Juvenile Robin flew down to greet us! |
Two very enjoyable July visits!
please click on photos to enlarge them
