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| the last day of 2025 at Ballachurry Reserve |
My visit to Ballachurry Reserve today was a little shorter than usual as I was unable to make a start until 10.30 a.m. It had been a cold night and there was still frost in patches and some ice left on the puddles. But I was greeted by loud chirps and quickly spotted the House Sparrow which was shouting its welcome near the entrance gate. I alternately crunched over frozen wood chip and splashed through puddles and mud until I reached the hide. Here is my last report of the year:
Birds:
SC210694 House Sparrow.
SC209694 Robin; Blackbird ( direct path to hide); Wren; Robin ( near apple trees) female Chaffinch, 2 x Woodpigeon flying over; Blackbird alarm call ( all near dragonfly pond); Great Tit and Blackbird ( near Ginnie's Bench). Jackdaws flying over.
SC208694 male & female Chaffinch; Robin; Wren; Blackbird heard not seen.
SC209695 Blackbird flew across; Blue Tit in tree.
SC208695 Song Thrush; Wren; 2 x Robin together + 1 on bench; Dunnock; 2 x Magpie in Sycamore tree.
SC208695 ( on feeders) 3 x Blue Tit; 2 x Great Tit; Coal Tit .
Other:
SC208694 Red Campion and Hogweed still in flower near compost heap.
SC208695 1 x Pestle Puffball stipe still standing but the other has gone.
SC208695 the oak leaves with Spangle Galls have now fallen to the ground, which must be part of the Gall Wasps' life cycle.
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| chirpy House Sparrow |
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| one of two Magpies in the tree with feeders |
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| Great Tit & Blue Tit |
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| I counted 3 Blue Tits feeding here |
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| like me, this Robin was enjoying the sun on its back! |
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| Robin on the Bowman Memorial Bench |
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| Song Thrush also enjoying the sunshine |
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| I had a nice close view for several minutes |
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| Wren |
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| Spangle Galls on fallen Oak leaf |
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| the Pestle Puffball stipe, still standing strong |
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| is this a late or an early flower on Hogweed? |
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| Red Campion still flowering too |
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| ice on the wood chip paths |
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| the "reedy bend" - note lovely blue sky |
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| usual view of the bird hide |
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| the floods are going down but this area is still very wet |
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| today the mud was frozen |
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| looking back at the puddle which has gone down a little |
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| the new glade catching the sun |
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| usual view from the hide ramp |
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| through the shutters |
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| silvery reeds |
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| pond level down ever so slightly |
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| winter sun on the meadow |
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| and the meadow from the bridge |
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| notice how much lower the water is under the bridge |
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| but there is still quite a flow |
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| the reed bed channel |
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| and the reed bed mostly in shadow |
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| the firs at the end of the Reserve - that's not a nest, by the way |
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| still some flooding under the willows |
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| sunshine on the board walk |
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| usual view of the stream |
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| and the usual view from the boardwalk |
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| looking back the way I have come |
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| the gorse boundary |
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| view from the Bowman Bench - note gorse in flower |
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| the inlet stream |
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| the dragonfly pond |
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| from both directions |
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| goodbye Ballachurry Reserve, 2025 - what will 2026 bring, I wonder? |
2025 has been a good year for the Reserve with some new wildlife records, some exciting sightings for me, and the re-profiling of the pond as a big initiative by the Manx Wildlife Trust. Whatever the weather and whatever the season, there is always something interesting to see! The success of Ballachurry Reserve is due in no small part to the hard work of its volunteers, led by the Southern Group Committee. A big thank you to all concerned and very best wishes for 2026.
please click on photos to enlarge them
