1 March 2025

 

I haven't posted for a while as I haven't seen much to write about over the winter.  There seem to have been the normal flocks of Redpoll and Siskins and quite a few Redwing, such as the one below, but nothing too spectacular.

Redwing [1st Blue]

However, today I went for a walk around the front few holes of the Blue this morning and came across a pair of Teal on the pond by the 3rd.  These are small ducks and the male is quite spectacular when you see it in the sunlight.  The male has a red and green head, whilst the female is dressed for camouflage rather than show.  This is the first time that I have seen them on the estate and whilst they may be looking to nest, I suspect that the resumption of play on the opening holes of the Blue may put them off.

Teal - male [3rd Blue]

Teal - female [3rd Blue]

There were also plenty of Coot and Moorhen, as well as Mallard and Mute Swans on the ponds by the 3rd and 4th.

Coot [3rd Blue]

11 February 2024

 

I had a walk around the Blue and Red course over the weekend.  The Blue was still very wet.  You can see that the stream has changed course to wash away much of the path around the 3rd tee.  Wildlife-wise, most notable was a huge flock of Siskins and Redpolls, numbering several hundred birds, in the woods between the 9th and 10th on the Blue course, making an incredible noise as they called out whilst feeding.

Siskins [9th Blue]

I haven't seen much on the reservoir recently, the Tufted Ducks and Gadwall seem to have gone, just a few Coots and Mallard visible today.

Coot [Reservoir]

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 May 2021

I played the front nine of the Blue this evening.   As I was standing on the back of the third green, wondering why I always put my tee shot into the water, one of the Kingfishers landed at the back of the pond and then flew onto a small bush just below the green.  

Kingfisher [3rd Blue]

Continuing the colourful theme - one of the Coots nesting on the reservoir has an apparent French allegiance:

Coot [Reservoir]

11 April 2021

 Had a good look around for new flowers on the course, but wasn't able to find any today.  Three more new birds to add to the list though - all from around the reservoir.   

Gadwall are quite handsome ducks - about the same size as a Mallard and usually found in pairs or small family groups.  This pair were on the reservoir this morning before being harassed into leaving by a typically pugnacious Coot.

Gadwall [Reservoir]

Gadwall and Coot [Reservoir]

I don't see many waders around the course.  This Common Sandpiper was also on the reservoir first thing.

Common Sandpiper [Reservoir]

Nearby was a Willow Warbler.  They are very difficult to distinguish from a Chiffchaff until they sing.   This one gave a quick phrase to allow confirmation of the identification.

27 February 2021

 

Beautiful morning, had a walk around all 3 courses.  Nothing particularly noteworthy, but all looking good in the sunshine.  Siskins, Crossbills and Goldfinches were all feeding around the 3rd and 4th on the Red.

Siskins [4th Red]

Crossbill [3rd Red]

This Long-tailed Tit was gathering nesting material in the gorse beside the 18th Blue.

Long-tailed Tit [18th Blue]

There are plenty of Great Tits singing around the course at the moment.  This one is a male.  The males have broader black stripes across their front than females.  Great Tits have one of the most impressive repertoires of different calls of any British bird with over 100 different songs being recorded.  This bird only felt the need to employ one of these.

Other birds about include one of the two Magpies that always frequent the trees around the 12th Red, a Coot on the reservoir and a Buzzard flying over the first couple of holes on the Blue.

Magpie [12th Red]

Coot [reservoir]

Buzzard [2nd Blue]

This Muntjac Deer didn't spot me whilst it was grazing in the area between the 15th and 13th on the Red.

A few more familiar flowers are appearing all around the course - a bit of yellow about today.

Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus [15th Red]

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale [12th Red]

Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna [4th Blue]

31 December 2020

 

Had a walk around the front nine of the Blue, followed by the front nine of the Red this morning in the mist.  Highlights were a flock of around 20 very obliging Crossbills in the small pines to the right of the 4th hole.  This is the first time that I have seen them for a month or so - they are obviously finding plenty to eat around the course still.

Crossbill [4th Red]

Crossbill [4th Red]

I managed to get some video of this male grappling with a pine cone - listen out for their distinctive loud calls. 

Elsewhere there were plenty of birds about, including:

Tufted Ducks, coot and little grebes (3) on the reservoir.  

A pair of Red-legged Partridges on the chipping area.

A Treecreeper in the small copse between the 1st and 2nd of the Red.

Moorhen [9th Red]

Tufted Ducks [Reservoir]

Coot [Reservoir]

Treecreeper [2nd Red]