Ballachurry Reserve, Rushen, IOM.: Ballachurry Reserve: Wednesday morning, 20th May, 2026.

a somewhat cool May morning at the Reserve

It was something of a grey start to the day on Wednesday but with the promise of an improvement later, I set off for the Reserve and arrived at 9.30. I immediately spotted a Ladybird on a nettle inside the gate. While recording this, a male Blackbird landed on the bridge handrail, almost beside me. I don't know which of us was the more surprised as we eyed each other briefly! The bird flew away and I let out my breath! Here is what else I saw and heard ( Manx names in brackets):

Birds: (Ushagyn)

SC210694 male Blackbird ( Lhon Doo); Chaffinch (Ushag y Chloau), Willow Warbler (Drean Vane) Wren (Drean) and Woodpigeon (Calmane Keylley) all heard but not seen.

SC209693 domestic Hen ( Kiark) followed me for some distance ; Sedge Warbler (Kiaulleyder Cliogagh); Robin (Spittag) heard not seen; Long-tailed Tit (Caillagh Veg Yn Arble) x at least 4.

SC209694 (hide) 2 x Mallard (Thunnagh Feie) ducklings alone most of the morning, feeding on the insects over the water but then just as I was leaving their mother came out of the reeds with their 4 siblings and they were called to order! Moorhen (Kiark Ushtey); Chiffchaff (Beealerey) heard not seen. Great Tit (Drean Mooar) in willow adjacent to hide.

SC209694 (elsewhere) male Blackbird (Lhon Doo) in birch tree; female Blackbird (Lhon Doo) flew across path; Goldfinch (Lossey ny Keylley) chatter heard; Dunnock (Drean Mollagh); Song Thrush (Threshlan) heard not seen; Wren (Drean)heard not seen; Chiffchaff (Ushag y Chloau) heard near dragonfly pond.; Sedge Warbler (Kiaullyder Cliogagh);

SC208694 Magpie (Pieanat) flew across; Blackcap (Bayrn Dhoo) heard not seen; Chaffinch (Ushag y Chloau) and Woodpigeon (Calmane Keylley) heard but not seen in willow copse; female Blackbird (Lhon doo) flew through willows; Robin (Spittag) singing from tree; Wren (Drean) and Blackcap (Bayrn Dhoo) heard not seen near the boardwalk. Swallow (Gollan Geayee) flying over; Wren (Drean) foraging at ground level; Willow Warbler (Drean Vane) heard not seen; Woodpigeon (Calmane Keylley) flying over; 2 x Siskin (Corkan Airhey) in tree near bridge. Song Thrush (Threshlan) singing close to boardwalk.

SC208695 Wren (Drean) flew down into brambles; Blackbird (Lhon doo) alarm call; Blackcap (Bayrn Dhoo) singing loudly from tree but couldn't spot it among leaves.

SC209695 male Blackcap (Bayrn Dhoo) near private entrance; male Blackbird (Lhon doo) flew across; Goldfinch (Lossey ny Keylley) flying over; Swallow (Gollan Geayee) flying over; male Chaffinch (Ushag y Chloau) in tree near Bowman Memorial bench.

SC209695 2 x Woodpigeon (Calmane Keylley) flew up from grass in front of the Bowman Memorial bench.

Butterflies & Moths: (Foillycanyn as Lhemeenyn)

SC209694 Green Veined White x 2 ( Baneag Gheayney)

SC209693 Bird Cherry Ermine moth (Lhemeem ermyn) larval webs

SC209694 Bird Cherry Ermine moth (Lhemeem ermyn) larval webs

Other:

SC210694 7-spot Ladybird.

SC210694 Garden Snail feeding on Burdock.

SC208695 Leucozona lucorum Hoverfly.

SC209694 2 x Pond Skater.

SC209694 Queen Wasp building nest inside the bird hide.

Although Wasps are welcome on the reserve, being beneficial insects, good pollinators etc, a nest in the hide is not really a good idea! At least one of our regular birdwatchers is highly allergic to wasp stings and the hide is often visited by parents with young children as well as local school groups etc. I emailed the Southern Group Committee about it straight away but just before I left an intrepid bird watcher volunteered to don gloves and remove it into a bag. Fortunately Her Majesty was not at home, although she arrived shortly afterwards and was not amused! Experience tells me she will start building another, so we all need to be vigilant. She certainly resented my presence in the hide earlier which made trying to bird watch rather tricky.

Blackbird - it sat singing on this branch most of the morning

Blackbird near the entrance

male Chaffinch

Mallard duckling out and about without a parent

there were 2 swimming around by themselves all morning

Mum eventually appeared from the reeds with 4 more

and the family was reunited

Moorhen

Sedge Warbler warbling near the hide

Robin in the willow copse

singing its heart out

Sedge Warbler near the path parallel to the road

Siskin

I only realised there were 2 when I saw my photos

Green Veined White on Hemlock Water Dropwort

Larval web of Bird Cherry Ermine Moth

7-spot Ladybird

Garden Snail munching through Burdock

Leucozona lucorum Hoverfly

Uh-oh!

Queen Wasp entering her palace

Red Campion in flower

Hemlock Water Dropwort in flower

Flag Iris in flower in the meadow surrounded by the Dropwort

The Hemlock Water Dropwort marches steadily across the meadow and will surely take over completely one day, swamping other flowers. It is very good for wildlife though, as it is often infested with caterpillars (bird food!) It also provides cover and nesting sites for some of Ballachurry's birds.