Had a quick walk around the front nine of the Blue first thing this morning. On the 6th you can find Pennyroyal, which is a type of mint and grows just behind the pond. It is a rare plant in Britain, although it is quite widespread in Europe and Asia.
Pennyroyal Mentha Pulegium [6th Blue]
There are lots of Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers with young around the course at the moment. These two Green Woodpeckers were part of a family group on the 8th.
Green Woodpeckers [8th Blue]
This juvenile Great Spotted was on the back tee on the 8th.
Great Spotted Woodpecker [8th Blue]
High above the 8th I could just about make out the characteristic silhouette of a Peregrine. I see them from time to time, usually high on the thermals
Peregrine [8th Blue]
There are quite a lot of birds around the reservoir at the moment. Swallows, Sand Martins and Swifts all hunting flies and a flock of Linnets and Greenfinches are feeding on the seeds.
Last weekend of lockdown, so had a long walk around all of the courses. A couple more flowers to add to the list. Field Mouse-ear is starting to flower on the edge of the 15th fairway on the Red.
Field Mouse-ear [15th Red]
Thale cress is a rather inconspicuous weed, but it is notable for being the first plant species to have its genome sequenced.
Thale Cress [5th Red]
I notice that the area to the right of the 10th tee on the Green is taped off. I would imagine that this is to protect the Maiden Pink which grows there and which is one of the rarest plants on the course. Look out for it from mid-June.
There were 4 species of birds of prey on a thermal above the 17th Blue - Red Kite, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine. The Peregrine was a long way up, but is just about identifiable from this heavily cropped image:
Peregrine [17th Blue]
Lots of Crossbills about still. I think that they must be nesting somewhere nearby as they are usually very early breeders. This male was by the greenkeeper's hut on the Blue.
Crossbill [16th Blue]
When feeding on pine cones they use their unusually shaped beak to prize apart to the cone and extract the seeds with their tongue.
4 Greylag Geese flew over the 4th on the Blue, including a white one at the back.
Otherwise I had distant views of the Kingfisher on the 1st/2nd/3rd of the Blue and the normal selection of common birds.
