 |
| winter sunshine at Ballachurry Reserve |
The Water Rail was in full voice when I arrived at Ballachurry at 1.30 p.m. on Friday. The call was coming not, as you might have expected, from the reed bed or pond but from a brambly patch near the path junction. I hovered, but it did not emerge. I think the flooded conditions are probably to its liking. Here is what else I recorded:
Birds:
SC209693 Goldfinch x 5 flying over; 2 x Song Thrush flew up and away from vegetation; 2 x Robins having a dispute; male Blackbird.
SC208695 ( on or near feeders) at least 5 x Blue Tit; Goldfinch; Chaffinch; at least 3 Great Tit; Tree Creeper ( I think only the third I've seen at Ballachurry since 2010!) Blackbird.
SC209694 Water Rail heard not seen; Blackbird heard not seen; Robin; Song Thrush; 14 x Jackdaws + Hooded Crow in Churchyard trees, seen from hide. Blue Tit seen from hide.
SC208694 5 x Long-tailed Tit; Sparrowhawk came out of willow wood and flew low over meadow; 3 x Great Tit flying over, 2 in tree; Magpie flying over; Blue Tit feeding in Alder by boardwalk; Robin in gorse bush.
 |
| Acrobatic Blue Tit in Alder by the boardwalk |
 |
| the feeders were extremely busy - I counted at least 5 Blue Tits |
 |
| Robin in the gorse bush near the Bridge |
 |
| Tree Creeper |
 |
| it was in the Sycamore tree which has the feeders |
 |
| the light was fading so it was hard to photograph |
 |
| just as acrobatic as a Blue Tit |
Now, come a walk around the reserve with me.........
 |
| the path that runs parallel to the road is flooded on both sides |
 |
| the reedy bend has a few puddles |
 |
| but near the path junction there is extensive flooding |
 |
| ankle deep in places, and possibly caused by the proximity of the pond |
 |
| usual view of the hide - no shutters left open this afternoon |
 |
| safely through the puddles, it is a little dryer at the path junction |
 |
| looking towards the new glade |
 |
| the new glade from over the dead hedge |
 |
| the new glade from the gorse boundary |
 |
| I always take a photo from the ramp when arriving at the hide |
 |
| through the shutters, |
 |
| no sign of the Mallards today |
 |
| in fact, very few birds seen from the hide |
 |
| back out in the wintry sunshine I walked through the meadow |
 |
| the stream is still very full |
 |
| and water was pouring over the dam |
 |
| I headed for the bridge ahead |
 |
| and crossed over into the Willow Wood |
 |
| view back along the stream from the bridge |
 |
| and looking the other way into the reed bed |
 |
| the reed bed from the Willows - note blue sky! |
 |
| I used to call the willows "the deep, dark wood" - not any more |
 |
| fresh storm damage since my last visit |
 |
| the "unofficial pond" grows larger week by week |
 |
| the end of the path through the willows with the pond beyond |
 |
| back across the bridge I headed for the boardwalk |
 |
| glancing back towards the hide across the meadow |
 |
| usual view from the boardwalk |
 |
| looking back the way I've come |
 |
| the boardwalk keeps us dry-shod! |
 |
| at this point we can turn left into the old beehive loop path |
 |
| the Sycamore tree at the end has the feeders |
 |
| birch and willow provide a good habitat for fungi here |
 |
| the low sun was picking out the tops of the trees |
 |
| looking back from the Bowman bench |
 |
| a good flow of water coming into the reserve at this point |
 |
| the stream flowing back towards the boardwalk |
 |
| next, along the gorse boundary path |
 |
| looking back |
 |
| and looking forward |
 |
| the dragonfly pond tranquil as usual |
 |
| although I heard the Water Rail near here |
 |
| bright green Hemlock Water Dropwort growing strongly already |
After a brief sojourn at the hide I made a second circuit
 |
| at 3.15 the light was already fading - bird in silhouette |
 |
| and I couldn't make out what was |
 |
| sun going down, seen from the old beehive loop |
,
 |
| back in the hide I watched the sun sink behind the trees |
 |
| the colours changing |
 |
| from minute to minute |
 |
| the temperature was also falling |
 |
| so I headed home past the reed bed |
To close here is a short video of the Tree Creeper
Whether or not I visit the Reserve again before Christmas depends on the weather, but I have my fingers crossed!
please click on the photos to enlarge them
