25 March 2023

 

I had a walk around the Blue course this morning.  I saw a reasonable flock of Redpolls and Siskins for the first time in a while.  They don't seem to have been as numerous this year as in the past.  I also heard the first Chiffchaffs beginning to sing - and came across a group of 5 or 6 feeding on the Blackthorn blossom behind the 16th green.

Chiffchaffs [16th Blue]

19 March 2023

 

I had a walk around the Blue course this morning in the early morning sunshine.  A Little Egret was in front of the 2nd green.  I have seen one here from time to time over the last couple of years.  In summer plumage you can see the long plumes that were prized by milliners in the past.  The second photo shows the yellow feet which are distinctive.

Little Egret [2nd Blue]

The spring flowers are starting to appear now.  There are a lot of daffodils around the course and primroses by the stream on the 18th Red.

Primrose Primula vulgaris [18th Red]

Elsewhere there were several Roe Deer about, including this one in the woods behind the 6th Blue.

Roe Deer [6th Blue]

One bird species that seems a lot more numerous this year is Greenfinch - there is often a large flock in the trees behind the practice net and around the 1st tee on the Red.  There also lots of Coal Tits and Goldcrests around, particularly around the conifers.  Both of these were near the 6th Blue.

Coal Tit [6th Blue]

Goldcrest [6th Blue]

One of the Kingfishers was perched on the pipe above the ditch just beyond the 4th tee.

Kingfisher [4th Blue]

15 March 2023

 

Frosty but sunny this morning - I had a quick walk around the Blue course and came across the Reed Buntings again.  This is the male of a pair that look to be nesting on the far side of the pond on the third.

Reed Bunting [3rd Blue]

12 March 2023

 

Went for a walk around the Blue and Red courses this morning and came across a Barn Owl hunting around the 3rd and 9th.  I see them occasionally on the course, usually in this area and brief glimpses.  This is the first time that I have been able to enjoy their ghostly presence for a few minutes.

Barn Owl [9th and 3rd Blue]

Elsewhere on the course, there are still quite a few Redwings still about.  I expect that they will return north in the next couple of weeks.

Redwing [13th Red]

This tame pheasant seems to frequent the Red course around the clubhouse and today was on the 18th tee.

Pheasant [18th Red]

2 March 2023

 

Had a walk around the Blue and Red early this morning.  I came across this Reed Bunting on the 3rd.  It is the first one that I have seen this year.  Usually we have a pair breed on the 3rd or 4th on the Blue.

Reed Bunting [3rd Blue]

The other notable thing was the huge number of gulls on the reservoir.  There were several hundred present - all either Black-headed or Lesser Black-backed as far as I could tell - definitely the largest numbers that I have seen here.

Black headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls [Reservoir]

Otherwise the usual species, including this Treecreeper on the 13th.

Treecreeper [13th Blue]