Ballachurry Reserve, Rushen, IOM.: Ballachurry Reserve: Tuesday Morning, 18th August, 2026.

a rather cloudy August day at the Reserve

There has been quite a change in the weather since I last visited the Reserve. No blue skies today and last week's pleasant breeze was much stronger this morning. I was glad of my light jacket as I walked round at 10 o'clock, although it was warmer by the time I left at lunch time. At this time of year the birds are keeping a low profile while they moult their old plumage and I scarcely saw or even heard any today. For the most part the butterflies too were sheltering down in the grass or on the woodchip. Here is what I recorded:

Birds:

SC209694 ( hide) juvenile Moorhen ; 2 x Mallard ( either females or males in eclipse).

SC209694 ( elsewhere) Chiffchaff heard not seen ( "weep" call); Goldcrest in Willow at the path junction; Blackbird heard not seen.

SC208694 Wren; Magpie heard not seen; female Blackbird flushed from beside the boardwalk; male Blackbird flew across the meadow; juvenile Robin.

Butterflies and Moths :

SC209693 Speckled Wood.

SC209695 4 x Speckled Wood.

SC209694 6 x Speckled Wood.

SC208694 Green Veined White.

SC208694 Painted Lady.

SC209694 Small Copper.

SC208694 Common Blue.

SC209694 Common Blue.

SC209694 Large Yellow Underwing Moth found by a family visiting reserve.

Other:

SC209694 unidentified Hawker Dragonfly patrolling main pond.

SC209694 Blue-tailed Damselfly at the dragonfly pond

SC209694 5 x Froglets in vegetation and in dragonfly pond ( found by children visiting reserve)

SC208695 Green Shieldbug nymph.

SC208695 unidentified bee resting on bracken.

SC209694 Ichneumon wasp on Cushag/ Ragwort and other vegetation.

SC209694 2 x 7-Spot Ladybird on grass.

SC209694 7-spot Ladybird on Marsh Woundwort.

SC209694 Tenthredo species of Sawfly on Cushag/ Ragwort

Mallard keeping a low profile in the reeds

later there were two of them

eventually they ventured out to preen

and have a swim round

the juvenile Moorhen was also keeping to the reeds

Large Yellow Underwing Moth found by a family visiting the reserve

Cushag attracting small butterflies

a rather tattered Common Blue

and a Small Copper

Speckled Wood

Painted Lady on Hemp Agrimony

Green Veined White

Blue-tailed Damselfly

A family I met near the dragonfly pond had come to look for frogs, having seen tadpoles earlier in the year. I explained that the froglets tended to leave the water and might be found in the grass. A little exploration found this to be the case, although others were indeed in the water. Always wonderful and inspiring to see the enthusiasm of the next generation!