21 May 2022

 

I walked around the front nine of the Blue this morning.  There are lots of baby birds about at the moment.  This Moorhen family ventured out onto the 4th fairway on the Blue and the Canada Goslings were by the pond on the 1st.

Moorhens [4th Blue]

Canada Geese [1st Blue]

Yellow Flag Irises are adding a splash of yellow to the 4th and 9th.

Yellow Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus [4th Blue]

31 July 2021

 

Mostly cloudy and wet today, but still a few more flowers to discover.  Common Fleabane grows in many of the damp areas around the course, particularly in the fen in front of the 3rd Blue.  This patch was on the 6th Blue.

Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica [6th Blue]

Very different, other than the name, Canadian Fleabane is common in the rough and on waste ground, but is rather inconspicuous - this plant growing in the Tubney range car park.

Canadian Fleabane Conyza canadensis [Tubney range]

This rather fearsome looking Wasp Spider was in the bushes behind the pond on the 3rd Blue.

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi [3rd Blue]

In the background you can see Gypsywort - shown in better focus below:

Gypsywort Lycopus europaeus [3rd Blue]

Smooth Tare grows in among the rough on the left of the 11th Blue where it forms small bushes.

Smooth Tare Vicia parviflora [11th Blue]

Not much else around today, other than this juvenile Moorhen on the 9th Red.

Moorhen [9th Red]

5 April 2021

Discovered some more Moschatel in the woods by the 1st Green on the Red and a Bulbous Buttercup on the 5th.

Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus [5th Red]

As well as a few familiar birds and insects.

Great spotted Woodpecker [2nd Blue]

Moorhen [1st Red]

Song Thrush [1st Red]

Red-tailed Bumblebee [18th 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]