Another sunny day and the spring flowers are more in evidence around the course. Daffodils are present on quite a few holes. Primroses are most common around the ditch on the right of the 18th Red, where there are also a few Coltsfoots.
Primrose Primula vulgaris [18th Red]
Daffodils Narcissus sp [4th Green]
I had some nice views of the Reed Buntings on the 3rd Blue this morning.
Reed Buntings [3rd Blue]
There are also a few Roe Deer about. I saw these two in the field next to the Doghouse practice area and there were also a herd of four or five in the woods to the left of the 14th Blue.
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.
Rather overcast today as I walked around different sections of the 3 courses. A few more flowers starting to appear.
Daffodil Nacissus pseudonarcissus [12th Red]
Dog's Mercury Mercurialis perennis [1st Blue]
Daisy Bellis perennis [1st Blue]
Elsewhere this was one of two pairs of Canada Geese noisily disputing ownership of the pond on the 3rd of the Blue.
Canada Geese [3rd Blue]
I also spotted a pair of Stock Doves on the Greenkeepers' hut behind the 16th on the Blue. They are easy birds to overlook as they are similar in size and appearance to Woodpigeons. On close inspection however you can see that they slightly darker, lack the Woodpigeon's white neck patch and have a thin black wing-bar rather than a broad white wing bar.
Stock Dove [16th Blue]
Compared to some Woodpigeons that I photographed behind the 3rd on the Blue in November:
Woodpigeon [3rd Blue]
I also regularly see a Green Woodpecker in one of the oak trees along the hedge on the 2nd on the Blue, where I suspect they may be nesting and a pair of Mallard around the pond by the 4th tee.
