early December reflections at Ballachurry Reserve
A combination of other commitments and bad weather had kept me away from Ballachurry last week, so on Tuesday it was nearly 2 weeks since my last visit. What had changed? Well, it was wetter than ever certainly - the puddles were ankle deep in places - and could that be a new hedgehog habitat under the willows, built by children at a recent Watch event? Although quite chilly on Tuesday, the sun was shining and I enjoyed my morning at the Reserve. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC210694 3 x male Chaffinch together in a tree near the entrance gate.
SC209693 Robin; Blackbird.
SC209694 (from hide) male and female Mallard on the water; preening Blue Tit; preening female Chaffinch; male Chaffinch; Robin heard not seen. Magpie flying over.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) male Blackbird near path junction; 2 x male Chaffinch; female Blackbird on Gorse boundary path; Magpie flying over; Robin at path junction.
SC208694 Woodcock flushed from ditch. Robin in willows and by Boardwalk; Wren; female Chaffinch; Blue Tit.
SC208695 ( on or near feeders) Blue Tit; 2 x Great Tit; Dunnock; Robin; Wren; 2 x male & 2 x female Chaffinch.
SC208695 ( general) Blackbird alarm call heard; Jackdaws heard not seen.
SC209695 Blackbir.
Other:
No new fungi seen; All that from my previous visits has now gone apart from the stalk of the Pestle Puffball which soldiers on regardless of the weather!(SC208695)
Blue Tit queuing for the feeders 
Blue Tit enjoying a sunbeam near the hide 
it started preening
male Chaffinch near the feeders 
female Chaffinch
Great Tit near the feeders
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| as I photographed this Robin a Woodcock suddenly flew up from behind it! |
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| Mallards snoozing in the reeds |
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| when they awoke..... |
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| they swam off across the pond |
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| to feed on the other side |
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| the stipe ( stalk) of the Puffball stands firm against the weather! |
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| turn left as you enter the Reserve..... |
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| and you'll see flooded undergrowth both sides of the path |
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| and this willow seems to have collapsed outwards |
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| round the reedy bend, what awaits? |
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| answer: a deep puddle! |
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| usual view of the hide |
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| new dead hedge at the path junction |
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| view of the new glade over the dead hedge |
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| arriving at the hide, view from the ramp |
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| both the door and the shutters had been left open |
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| letting in the bad weather |
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| view through the shutters - pond brimful |
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| stream flowing into the pond over the top of the mudflat |
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| leaving the hide I walked along the meadow |
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| glancing back towards the hide |
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| water was pouring over the new dam |
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| high water level under the bridge |
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| water pouring over the old dam too |
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| looking back from the bridge |
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| and the other direction to the reed bed |
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| usual view over the reed bed - low sun at this time of year |
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| the "unofficial pond" is back under the willows |
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| ah ha! something new under a tree! |
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| a des. res. for a hedgehog, I think |
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| usual view of the boardwalk |
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| the Alder near the boardwalk is standing in water |
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| usual view along the stream from the boardwalk |
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| usual view from the boardwalk - low sun casting shadows again |
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| looking back the way I had come |
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| start of the old beehive loop |
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| looking towards the Bowman bench |
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| which was in sunshine! |
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| the gorse bush beside the bench is in flower |
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| plenty of water gushing into the reserve |
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| looking along the inlet stream |
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| looking back along the gorse boundary |
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| and the other way |
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| recently cleared ditch along the boundary |
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| a peaceful dragonfly pond |
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| with reflections in the water |
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| and somewhere to sit.... |
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| to enjoy the view |
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| finally back through the puddles and home for lunch! |
There is a work party planned for Saturday ( weather permitting) and if the wood chip arrives in time then we'll be tackling the puddles and mud! It will be a festive occasion, I'm told, with mince pies and some singing during the break! More of that in my next Blog post perhaps!
Please click on photos to enlarge them
