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| Ballachurry meadow on a rather cool June day |
I was loading my wellies, camera and binoculars etc. into the car on Tuesday afternoon ready to go to Ballachurry Reserve, when it began to rain! I retreated indoors and waited for the sharp shower to blow over. When the sun came out later I tried again, finally arriving at the Reserve about 13.40. The sunshine was short lived and twice I had to sit out showers in the bird hide. However, I still had an interesting afternoon. Here is what I recorded ( Manx in Brackets):
Birds: (Ushagyn)
SC210694 Chaffinch (Ushag y Chloau) heard not seen.
SC209693 male Blackbird (Lhon Doo) on the path; Sedge Warbler (Kiaulleyder Cliogagh) heard from the reeds; 2 x Blue Tit (Drean gorrym)
SC209694 ( hide) 2 x Moorhen (Kiark Ushtey) with 2 x chicks; Mallard (Thunnagh feie) duck + 1 duckling; male Chaffinch(Ushag y Chloau) ; Song Thrush (Threshlen) heard not seen; male Blackbird (Lhon Doo) singing from top of shrubs.
SC209694 ( elsewhere) Blackcap (Bayrn Dhoo) x 2; Blue Tit (Drean gorrym) carrying food to nest box; Chaffinch (Ushag y Chloau) heard not seen; 3 x Goldfinch (Lossey ny Keylley) at path junction; Song Thrush(Threshlen) heard not seen.
SC208694 Swallow (Gollan Geayee) flying over; Chiffchaff (Beealerey) heard not seen; Chaffinch (Ushag y Chloau) heard not seen.
SC208695 Adult Blue Tit (Drean gorrym) with fledgling begging for food.
SC209695 Willow Warbler (Drean Vane).
Butterflies and Moths: ( Foillycanyn as Lhemeenyn)
SC209695 Speckled Wood (Breck ny Keylley).
SC209694 Painted Lady (Foillycan yn Onnane).
SC210694 Depressaria daucella caterpillars on Hemlock Water Dropwort (Lhemeen y Dhaaue bane).
Other: ( Reddyn Elley)
SC209695 Hoverfly on buttercup.
SC210694 3 x 7-spot Ladybird larvae on nettles.
SC209694 wasps going in and out nest box on noticeboard.
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| Blue Tits close to the main reed bed |
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| Blackbird seen from the hide |
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| beak full of insects |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Goldfinch elsewhere |
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| Moorhen with chick |
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| each parent still has a chick |
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| they were actively swimming round |
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| both together |
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| and occasionally independently |
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| the Mallard is an indulgent mother - the duckling chooses where to go |
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| she dutifully stands guard when it goes ashore |
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| a well deserved nap later |
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| Speckled Wood during a sunny interval |
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| a rather faded Painted Lady seen briefly |
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| Depressaria daucella caterpillar ( Water-dropwort Brown Moth) |
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| Hoverfly on Buttercup |
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| Hoverfly on Gorse |
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| 7-spot Ladybird larva |
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| another 7-spot Ladybird larva |
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| the new nest box on the noticeboard........ |
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| has been colonised by wasps |
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| the wild roses are lovely at the moment |
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| a pioneer Hemlock Water Dropwort by the dragonfly pond |
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| yellow rattle, plantains and buttercups near Ginnie's Bench |
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| sycamore keys turning red |
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| and now the usual tour of the reserve, starting near the gate |
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| I took the longer route to the hide |
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| hard to see the hide now from the usual spot |
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| I could hear a Blackcap here and glimpsed it briefly |
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| there was a Sedge Warbler calling from just opposite the hide |
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| usual view from the ramp - an ominous looking sky! |
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| usual views through the shutters |
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| I took the path beside the meadow |
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| and crossed the bridge |
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| the coppiced willows are sprouting well |
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| extra light has encouraged flowering |
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| looking towards the end of the willow copse |
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| usual view of the boardwalk from near the bridge |
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| looking back over the meadow from the the boardwalk |
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| usual view from the boardwalk |
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| hard to believe that this is the usual view of the stream |
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| along the gorse boundary |
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| to the dragonfly pond |
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| the surface is covered in duckweed - it's not algae |
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| too cool to linger on the bench today |
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| another shower is heading this way - time to go home! |
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| a final glance over my shoulder as I leave |
Despite the showers, an interesting afternoon at the Reserve
please click on photos to enlarge them
