23 January 2021

 

The weather seems to have thawed out a bit by the end of the week.  I had a couple of loops 9 holes now the the course had defrosted.  There are a few Roe Deer at various places on the courses.  This one was in the woods next to the 13th on the Blue.  There were also some Muntjac Deer nearby.

Roe Deer [13th Blue]

Otherwise, mammal-wise there is plenty of evidence of Moles about, particularly on the Doghouse range.

Molehills [Doghouse range]

Another tunneler that I watched with some fascination at the driving range was the machine that is laying the pipes for the new irrigation system.  It carves a tunnel with a plough-like appendage, drags the pipe through and leaves almost no trace above ground - very impressive.

The reservoir looks almost ready to fill up - the lining has been put in place:

I am always impressed with the number of birds roosting in the trees on the yellow and green courses around the clubhouse.  There are many trees with 6 or 7 Red Kites in the topmost branches.  There is also a large and noisy Rook roost, with several trees containing 100+ birds at this time of year.

Rooks [Yellow course]

12 January 2022

 

Very crisp this morning.  There was definitely more birdsong since the turn of the year.  The Song Thrush to the left of the 3rd Blue seems to be singing from the same tree as last year.  Great Tits and Blue Tits are also very audible.

A pair of Kingfishers was around the 1st Blue this morning.  There was a Coot on the pond on the 3rd which is quite unusual - perhaps a refugee from the reservoir works.

Coot [3rd Blue]

More usual was a Treecreeper on the 9th Blue.  These little birds are quite common on the course flitting up tree trunks searching for insects.

Treecreeper [9th Blue]

9 January 2022

 

Had a walk around the front nine of the Blue again this morning.  The flock of Redpolls and Siskins was feeding on the alder seeds high up in the trees to the left of the 5th.  I saw a Nuthatch to the left of the 6th as well as the usual selection of regulars.

Redpolls [5th Blue]

If you are yet to buy your 2022 calendar, I can recommend the (very) limited edition Frilford Nature Diary calendars.  I have left a few in the office.  These are A3 and have a nature photo from the course for each month - they are £15 each, with all proceeds going to the captain's charity.

2 January 2022

 

Played the back nine of the Blue course this morning and then had a walk around the first three holes.  The highlight was a very large mixed flock of Redpolls, Siskins, Chaffinches and Goldfinches that moved between the trees either side of the 9th and around the trees near the 4th tee.  I would estimate that there were 100-200 birds, with Siskins being the most common - feeding and nipping down to the ditch to drink and making an impressive noise.

Redpoll [4th Blue]

Redplls and Siskin [4th Blue]