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| A lovely still morning with reflections |
I arrived in sunshine on Thursday and left in the rain! The Reserve was wetter than ever with more standing water under the trees and along the paths.There was even water flowing along the gorse boundary and under the concrete bridge! This was the old route of the stream before it was diverted years ago to make the pond and reed beds and it still makes a useful overflow in extreme weather. But at 9.30 the sun was shining as I headed towards the hide to open up the shutters and it didn't cloud over until about midday. Here is my report:
Birds:
SC210694 Robin heard not seen.
SC209693 Water Rail calling, not from the reed bed but from somewhere in the flooded areas.
SC209694 (hide) Magpie; Wren; Grey Wagtail there for most of the morning; 2 x Robin together without animosity; Chiffchaff; Blackbird; Water Rail calling from reed bed; 2 x Hooded crow; Great Tit; Blue Tit.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) male & female Blackbirds taking apples and seen elsewhere; 3 x Robin seen together, some flirtatious behaviour between two of them;Wren .
SC208694 Robin; Blackbird; Goldcrest pointed out by MWT's Hannah who was visiting the Reserve that morning; male & female Chaffinch.
SC208695 male & female Chaffinch; Magpie; Robin.
Other:
SC208694 Readlead Roundhead and Blue Leg Brownie fungi.
SC208695 Pestle Puffball still standing despite adverse weather.
SC208694 Hart's-tongue fern under willows NEW RECORD.
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| 2 x Robins and a Chaffinch together near the main pond |
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| one of 3 Robins near the fallen apples |
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| Robin near the bird hide |
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| Robin in the old Beehive Loop |
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| it perched & flew in about a yard away from where I was standing! |
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| Blackbird enjoying the fallen apples |
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| very tasty! |
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| Magpie |
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| Goldcrest - a good spot by MWT's Hannah |
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| distant, blurry record shot of the Chiffchaff |
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| I had delightful views of the Grey Wagtail |
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| it was very close to the hide |
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| this was its second visit of the morning |
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| when I arrived at 9.30ish it was on the mudflat |
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| please watch the preening video at the end of this post |
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| Blue Leg Brownies |
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| Pestle Puffball |
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| Redlead Roundheads |
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| Hart's-tongue fern |
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| the Ash Walk |
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| what I call the bramble bend |
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| plenty of water coming over the dam again |
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| stream brimful |
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| but water level possible slightly lower than last week? |
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| the bridge over to the Willow Wood and compost area |
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| view from the bridge |
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| the channel in front of the reed bed |
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| looking across the reed bed from the wood |
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| between the wood and the boardwalk |
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| usual view of boardwalk - note blue sky! |
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| stream too deep and fast for birds to bathe at present |
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| usual view looking back |
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| usual view looking back across the meadow |
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| dragonfly pond brimful |
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| but the bench is not yet floating |
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| lovely reflections |
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| a sunshiny, reedy bend |
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| view from the hide ramp |
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| through the shutters |
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| no birds on the water this week |
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| sunny meadow |
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| turn left to the hide or right to the gorse boundary |
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| water gushing into the reserve |
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| certainly a good flow |
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| the willow wood |
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| part of which is flooded |
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| a flooded path near the path junction |
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| and another elsewhere |
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| water, water everywhere |
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| an additional stream going under the concrete entrance bridge |
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| and along behind the road wall |
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| this is normally a dry ditch |
twice after midday I had to seek refuge in the hide from the rain
Having paddled round the Reserve in my wellies, I paused to read the notice board as I left
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| 😂 |
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| Bye bye Ballachurry until Saturday's Work Party |
And some bird videos to close
