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| a natural photo frame at Ballachurry Reserve |
I was not expecting to see many butterflies at the Reserve on Tuesday morning as the weather was still quite blustery in the aftermath of Monday's Storm Floris, - butterflies don't like wind! However, I did see plenty of butterflies but very few birds! Sunshine came and went intermittently and at one point I had to hotfoot it back to the hide and sit out a squally shower! Here is my report: Birds:
SC208694 5 x Goldfinches landed in the willows; Woodpigeon flew away near the compost heap; 3 x Swallows overhead; Song Thrush on path; Mallard flying over; 2 x Wren together; Goldcrest in tree; Robin heard not seen; Chaffinch heard not seen. Great Tit & Blue Tit flying over; male Blackcap; male Chaffinch.
SC209695 Blue Tit heard;
Butterflies:
SC209694 Common Blue; Green Veined White; Speckled Wood x 4; Red Admiral.
SC209693 Green Veined White x 3; Speckled Wood x 3;
SC208694 Green Veined White x 3; Speckled Wood x 3; Wall Brown; Red Admiral x 3.
SC209695 Green Veined White x 2; Speckled Wood x 3; Meadow Brown; Red Admiral.
SC208695 Green Veined White; Speckled Wood x 2;
Other:
SC210694 Field Grasshopper
SC210694 female Common Blue Damselfly
SC209694 Blue-tailed Damselfly in grass near dragonfly pond
SC209694 female Common Blu Damselfly
SC208694 unidentified Hawker ( blue) making passes over reed bed
SC209694 14-spot Ladybird on thistle with Black Thistle Aphids.
SC208694 Hoverfly species
SC209694 "Footballer " Hoverfly
SC209694 Artichoke Galls on oak - gall wasp Andricus foecundatrix
SC210694 Field Grasshopper
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| male Blackcap |
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| male Chaffinch |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Red Admiral |
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| it insisted on following me about for a while! |
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| another keeping warm on the boardwalk |
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| Red Admiral on Oak sapling |
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| there were three in the Hemp Agrimony |
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| it's a great plant for wildlife |
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| male Common Blue |
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| same butterfly wings closed |
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| Speckled Wood |
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| the wood chip paths are sheltered and warm for butterflies |
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| possibly Ballachurry's most prolific butterfly |
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| low in the grass |
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| and high in a tree |
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| male Wall Brown |
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| it was very camouflaged with closed wings |
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| Green Veined white showing the green veins |
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| but they have fine black lines on the upper wings |
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| brambles are a great source of nectar for butterflies |
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| Common Blue Damselfly - a female I think |
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| Common Blue damselfly - another female |
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| tiny 14-spot Ladybird with its next meal |
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| bees love Hemp Agrimony too |
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| a "footballer " Hoverfly |
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| Field Grasshopper near the gate as usual |
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| another Hoverfly |
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| last week's caterpillar is still on its leaf |
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| Artichoke Galls on Oak - made by gall wasp Andricus foecundatrix |
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| Rowan berries along the Ash Walk |
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| usual view of the boardwalk |
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| view from the boardwalk during a sunny interval |
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| looking back the way I had come |
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| squally shower approaching |
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| I just made it back to the hide in time |
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| looking through the shutters - I could hear quacks but see no ducks |
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| view from the ramp towards the meadow |
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| the meadow has a long season of interest |
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| it has been flowering for many weeks now |
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| whichever direction you look there is colour |
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| nature does it so well! |
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| the dragonfly pond was partially in shade |
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| not a view I often photograph from the pond |
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| sky has cleared once more |
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| the compost corner - every Reserve should have one! |
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| under the shady willows |
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| the Hawthorn in the corner is absolutely laden with berries |
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| one of the path junction paths |
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| the usual view of the reedbed |
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| this photo gives an indication of how strong the wind was |
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| path leading to the Bowman bench |
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| a quiet glade out of the wind |
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| you can guess the season from the ripening berries |
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| clouding over again - time to go home |
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| we are so lucky to have this reserve in the South! |
with apologies for the poor quality and number of bird photos - the birds were keeping out of the wind, I think.
please click on photos to enlarge them
