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| a sunny, winter's day at Ballachurry Reserve |
Nine thirty on Wednesday morning found me at Ballachurry Reserve wearing multiple layers of clothing. It was only 4 degrees Centigrade and despite the bright sunshine felt much colder still in the brisk northerly wind. I saw plenty of birds but for the most part they were keeping to the heart of the vegetation, obviously they were trying to keep warm too. It was not much warmer in the hide as someone had left the shutters open, possibly all night, but I was delighted to see a pair of Mallard in the reeds, the first I've seen there since the pond was re-profiled. Here is my report:Birds:
SC210694 male Chaffinch; House Sparrow.
SC209694 ( hide) pair of Mallard; Wren; small flock of Goldfinches flying over; Raven heard flying over croaking; 2 x male Chaffinch; Song Thrush; Robin; Blackbird flying over; Magpie.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) over-wintering Chiffchaff; Wren; Robin ( several sightings) ; 2 x Goldfinch; Blue Tit; 2 x Woodpigeon flying over; 2 x male Chaffinch; Great Tit; Blackbird heard not seen; Wren.
SC208694 Buzzard mobbed by corvids; Song Thrush.
SC208695 ( on or near feeders) Robin; female Chaffinch; 2 x Blue Tit ( one ringed) ; 2 x Great Tit; Blackbird; Goldcrest.
SC209693 2 x Blackbirds on the ground plus 1 flying over, all seen at the same time.
SC209695 Wren.
Other:
SC208695 Pestle Puffball still standing despite all the wet and cold weather.
SC209693 Candlesnuff fungi on fallen branch.
SC210694 Common Wasp on Bridge hand rail.
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| Robin foraging in recently cleared ditch |
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| at first the Mallards were hunkered down in the reeds |
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| later they were swimming and feeding |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Blue Tit and Great Tit |
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| Common Wasp still active |
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| the Pestle Puffball soldiers on! |
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| Candlesnuff Fungi |
Last Saturday, 15th November, there was a work party at the Reserve. The forecast had been for patchy light rain and drizzle, slowly dying out. The reality was rather different as it rained fairly steadily for most of the morning! The Ballachurry Bashers bashed on regardless, even sitting in the rain to eat the reviving cake provided by the Committee at break time. It was too wet and muddy to photograph the action but here are a few photos to show the end results, paired with a photograph from Wednesday when water levels had subsided somewhat.
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| Volunteers cleared to the left of the concrete bridge, working in flowing water |
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| Wednesday's photo, looking much dryer |
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| ditch cleared from concrete bridge along gorse boundary |
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| Wednesday's photo in the sunshine |
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| the gorse boundary ditch looking towards entrance |
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| Wednesday's photo |
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| the green patches are Hemlock Water Dropwort already coming through |
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| new dead hedges at the path junction |
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| a closer view on Wednesday |
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| vegetation and moss cleared from the bridge |
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| the moss was making the surface rather slippery |
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| likewise the mini bridge |
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| Volunteers cut back the encroaching Blackthorrn |
Well done all the volunteers! And thank you to those who provided the cakes!
Now, here are the usual photos from round the reserve taken on Wednesday in the wintry sunshine.
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| the reedy bend |
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| usual view of hide |
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| path junction puddle not quite so large |
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| looking over new dead hedge into the new glade |
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| view from the hide ramp |
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| through the side shutter |
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| no Grey Wagtail today |
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| reeds looking very silvery in the sunshine |
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| plenty of water still coming down |
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| indeed, it has carried away part of the old dam |
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| part of the old dam floating near the new one |
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| this is where it should be |
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| view from the bridge |
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| and looking the other way |
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| looking across the reed bed |
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| towards the compost heap |
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| and through the willows |
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| looking across the meadow |
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| and over towards the apple trees |
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| usual view of the boardwalk |
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| and of the stream |
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| blue sky but a very cold wind on the boadwalk |
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| trees along the old beehive loop |
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| birches |
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| and ash |
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| a sunny corner near the Bowman memorial bench |
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| view from that bench |
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| stream is visible during the winter |
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| Where have all the apples gone? Eaten by Blackbirds every one! |
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| Gorse boundary views |
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| reflections in the dragonfly pond |
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| view from the bench |
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| filigree birches near the dragonfly pond |
An enjoyable, if chilly, morning. I headed home for hot soup!
please click on photos to enlarge them
