Braved the arctic conditions to inspect all three courses this morning. Didn't spot any new flowers, but plenty of birds around.
The main flock of Redwings seemed to be centred on the 3rd hole on the Blue when I walked past. There were also a few Fieldfares mixed in. Fieldfares are quite large thrushes, about the size of Mistle Thrush but rather more colourful, with a slate grey nape and rump. Like the Redwings, they are winter visitors. There were large numbers in early December, most likely migrating through, but I have not seen many since. In the photo below they are the larger pair at the back
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| Fieldfares and Redwings [3rd Blue] |
There are also flocks of Redwings on the 14th Red and 6th Green. In the latter flock there were also some Mistle Thrushes mixed in.
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| Mistle Thrush [6th Green] |
One of the characteristic sounds around the courses at the moment is woodpeckers drumming. We have both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers resident. This one was near the bridge between the Red and Blue courses.
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker [1st Red] |
They tend to find a hollow branch or trunk such as this one so that the sound resonates. Woodpeckers have a pad of shock-absorbent tissue between the bill and skull to reduce the effect of the impact.
Elsewhere I managed to grab a photo of a wren on the 15th on the Green and a rather distant shot of some Lapwings flying over - there were actually several small flocks that flew across.
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| Wren [15th Green] |
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| Lapwings [15th Red] |
On the Blue course I had a nice view of a Redpoll in the ditch behind the 3rd green and saw four Roe Deer on the 5th fairway. A Stock Dove also took off near to the nest box on the 2nd.
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| Redpoll [3rd Blue] |
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| Roe Deer [5th Blue] |
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