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| nearly Christmas at Ballachurry Reserve |
A dry day was forecast for Tuesday so despite overcast skies I decided to make a final visit to the Reserve before Christmas. I was there by 9 a.m. and at first everything was very quiet. It was certainly a gloomy day and there seemed to be very few birds about. However, as the morning went on and the skies lightened a little I began to spot them. Judging by the number of alarm calls, the Blackbirds also spotted me! Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC209694 ( hide) Mallard pair in reeds at first, later swimming and feeding. Blue Tit feeding among the reeds; Goldcrest feeding among the reeds and in the willows later; Sparrowhawk flew over the pond at low level; Blackbird on path near the hide.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) Male Blackbird flew across from near Ginnie's bench as I arrived at the reserve; 2 x Blackbirds flew across reserve together; Blackbird flew across path junction at low level; Wren near dragonfly pond, another in vegetation along Gorse Boundary; Woodcock flushed from beside path on Gorse Boundary; Blue Tit; 2 x Robins together flew across path; Great Tit; Song Thrush, Robin, Greenfinch, and Chaffinch all at the path junction on the ground;
SC209693 Blackbird heard not seen.
SC208694 Wren near the bridge; Water Rail heard not seen; Robin near the boardwalk; male Blackbird near boardwalk.
SC208695 ( on or near feeders) 2 x Blue Tit; Dunnock; Great Tit; Robin x 2; 4 x Chaffinch; male Blackbird flew across close to boundary, another sitting in tree with feeders; 3 x Goldfinch; Wren; 3 x Long-tailed Tit on feeders, also in trees nearby; Coal Tit; Great Spotted Woodpecker working its way up the branches of the Sycamore tree with the feeders. When it reached the top it flew away; female Blackbird on the path.
SC209694 ( outside reserve in field) 3 female or juvenile blackbirds together down on the ground.
Other:
SC209694 Redlead Roundhead fungi on the path near the hide, going over but 1 new one coming through nearby.
SC208695 the sturdy stipes of the Pestle Puffballs soldier on.
SC209694 The Marsh Marigold in the dragonfly pond has put up new leaves.
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| Chaffinch & Greenfinch at the path junction |
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| Robin on the old Beehive Loop (NB Grid ref should be SC208695) |
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| it was joined by Long-tailed Tits (NB Grid ref should be SC208695) |
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| which visited the feeders too - note ring |
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| Great Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Chaffinch & Goldfinch |
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| Robin beneath feeders |
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| Chaffinch |
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| another Robin elsewhere |
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| Mallards seen from the hide |
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| Goldfinches |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker......... |
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| doing the splits? no, it's a twig! |
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| it was a lovely early Christmas present for me! |
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| The Redlead Roundheads were looking very red indeed! |
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| the Pestle Puffballs go on and on |
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| fresh Marsh Marigold leaves on the dragonfly pond |
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| with leaves off the trees we can see the nests |
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| first photo of the day |
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| always a sense of expectation on entering the reserve |
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| I took my usual route |
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| which was wetter than ever - usual view of hide |
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| I think the orange colour is some kind of algae |
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| the flood was deeper than ever! |
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| usual view from the ramp |
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| the mud flat and stream entering the pond |
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| a Blue Tit and a Goldcrest were hunting insects in these reeds |
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| looking through the side shutter |
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| the meadow from the bridge |
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| and from near the hide |
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| and looking back from the boardwalk |
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| usual view of the boardwalk |
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| the stream still in full flow |
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| usual view from the boardwalk |
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| the boardwalk on rather a gloomy day |
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| but the gorse makes a bright splash |
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| in summer the stream vanishes beneath the vegetation |
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| a bit too damp and chilly for sitting on the bench |
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| but there were a few birds in the vicinity |
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| heading for the path junction |
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| and onwards towards the hide |
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| the willow wood |
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| very quiet near the compost area today |
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| the reed bed |
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| and the reed bed channel |
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| heading for the bird feeders |
And finally......
please click on photos to enlarge them
