I have been away on holiday and very busy since my return, so Tuesday afternoon's visit to the Reserve was quite a treat. Recent good weather had brought everything on considerably and Ballachurry is looking very lush! All the Hawthorn is now in blossom and the reserve smells very fragrant and fresh. With the paths dry underfoot once more, now is a perfect time for a visit. Here is what I recorded:
Birds:
SC210694 Wren heard not seen.
SC209693 Great Tit; Goldfinch chatter heard; Willow Warbler; Raven flying over croaking.
SC209694 ( from Hide) Moorhen; Pheasant heard not seen; Magpie heard not seen; Jackdaws heard not seen; Robin heard not seen; Sparrowhawk flew across at very low level; Sedge Warbler heard not seen.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) 2 x Goldfinch flew into birch tree; Blackcap heard not seen at path junction; Chiffchaff on gorse boundary; Blackbird flew across path junction.
SC208694 Chiffchaff and Chaffinch heard but not seen in the willows; 2 x Woodpigeon; Sedge Warbler near the boardwalk; Chaffinch heard not seen; Buzzard flying over.
SC208695 new feeders noted, some food remaining but no birds seen; Blackcap heard not seen.
SC209695 male Blackcap.
Butterflies & Moths:
SC210694 male Orange Tip
SC209693 male Orange Tip; Orange Tip eggs on Cuckoo Flowers.
SC208694 male Orange Tip on Cuckoo flowers.
SC209694 Speckled Wood.
SC208695 Speckled Wood.
SC209695 2 x unidentified Whites spiraling together.
SC209694 Bird Cherry Ermine Moth webs on Bird Cherry.
Other:
SC209694 dragonfly pond: abundant tadpoles; 4 x Whirligig Beetles; Pond Snails.
SC209694 2 x Gorse Shieldbugs.
SC210694 Hairy Shieldbug.
SC210694 Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura Mirablis).
SC210694 Rhingia campestris Hoverfly.
SC209695 various unidentified Hoverflies in gorse and vegetation.
SC208694 Herb Robert in flower beneath willows.
SC210694 Domestic Hen from next door!
SC208695 Sycamores in flower.
SC209694 Oaks in flower.
SC209694 Bogbean in flower.
SC210694 1 solitary Garlic Mustard plant noted ( caterpillar food plant for Orange Tip and Green Veined White butterflies)
Still no photos, I'm afraid. My holiday meant I could not get the computer repaired. I'm now on the case!
