Sunshine on the Ballachurry birches
I saw something very rare at Ballachurry on Friday ! My shadow! After days of rain and gloomy weather the sun finally came out on Friday afternoon and I hurried down there straight after lunch. The water levels were higher than perhaps I had ever seen them before but I paddled round in my trusty wellies and saw a selection of birds. Here is my report:
Birds:
SC208694 3 x Blackbird; Greenfinch; Goldfinch chatter heard + Goldfinch near stream later; Robin.
SC209695 female Chaffinch; Robin; Buzzard flew up from trees next door; Blackbird x 2 on ground together; 4 x Goldfinch.
SC209694 5 x Blackbird near apple trees, another near the path junction; Robin; Magpie & Jackdaws heard but not seen; male Chaffinch; Goldcrest; Goldfinch + flock of Goldfinch flying over; Great Tit; Blue Tit.
SC208695 ( on or near feeders) Robin x 2; Blue Tit; Greenfinch; Great Tit x 4; Goldfinch x 2; female Chaffinch; 2 x Magpie in tree.
Other:
SC208694 Rabbit.
Blackbird foraging in the meadow 
and another near the Bowman Memorial bench 
this Goldcrest flew down into the reserve from Old School House firs 
Grea tTit
 |
| Greenfinch |
 |
| one of two Robins near the feeders |
 |
| Great Tit |
 |
| this very tame Robin flew right up to me! |
 |
| then pecked round by my feet while I watched the feeders |
 |
| another Robin sunbathing on the Bowman Memorial Bench |
 |
| Robins seemed to be everywhere |
 |
| this one was near the end of the boardwalk |
 |
| Blue sky at Ballachurry at last |
 |
| but water running along the ditches |
 |
| another willow has blown over + the flood just inside the entrance |
 |
| puddles right up to the stored barrows |
 |
| a muddy path through the Hazels |
 |
| and a muddy, reedy bend |
 |
 |
| the hide is not yet afloat! |
 |
| it will take some time for this to dry out, I think |
 |
| the path junction |
 |
| usual view from the ramp |
 |
| views through the shutters |
 |
| a fast flow into the pond |
 |
| dam overflowing |
 |
| bridge over to the willows |
 |
| this photo shows height of water under the bridge |
 |
| reed bed |
 |
| the reed bed channel |
 |
| looking back across the meadow |
 |
| usual photos from through the willows |
 |
| quite a quagmire here |
 |
| lovely to see the hide basking in the sunshine |
 |
| now heading for the boardwalk |
 |
| looking back from the boardwalk across the meadow |
 |
| stream brimful |
 |
| usual view from the boardwalk |
 |
| looking back |
 |
| I scanned these trees for a Woodpecker, without success |
 |
| the ash walk |
 |
| and from the other direction |
 |
| water gushing in |
 |
| the gorse boundary |
 |
| there were 5 Blackbirds coming and going along here together |
 |
| I saw them several times |
 |
| the dragonfly pond still has no frogspawn |
 |
| it is overflowing on the right hand edge |
 |
| usual view of the pond |
 |
| and from the other side |
 |
| Ginnie is not forgotten while her bench is away for maintenance |
 |
| a 2026 rarity at the reserve! |
My over-riding impression from this week's visit was of Blackbirds and Robins!
I had begun to despair of being able to visit the Reserve this week, so was very happy to do so on Friday afternoon. With March now on the horizon let's hope we can say goodbye to winter very soon.
please click on photos to enlarge them
