30 July 2023

 

I played the front nine of the Blue course a few times over the last couple of days.  The brood of Canada Geese that live on the 3rd/4th look pretty near fully-fledged now.  They did present a potential obstacle as I lined up my putt on the 3rd, but moved out of the way to see me 2 putt for the usual 5.

Canada Geese [3rd Blue]

On the way to Blue course, just to the left of the bridge I came across a patch of these fungi, known as the Death Cap.

Death Cap Amanita phalloides [1st Blue]

You will probably guess from the name that they don't make good eating.  In fact they are considered to be the most poisonous fungi on earth.  If you are feeling a bit peckish pre-round and tempted to chew on one, you may want to consider this note on the symptoms of poisoning:

'Within 6 to 12 hours after consumption, violent abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea appear, causing rapid loss of fluid from the tissues and intense thirst. Signs of severe involvement of the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system soon follow, including a decrease in urinary output and a lowering of blood sugar. This condition leads to coma and death in more than 50 percent of the incidents.'

There are a lot of Brown Hares around the courses at the moment.  One behaviour that I see a lot is that they crouch down very low in an attempt to stay hidden.  This is very effective in the thick rough where I have almost trodden on a couple - less effective on the short grass though..

Brown Hare [5th Blue]

It is the time of year when there are lots of young birds hunting insects around the estate.  They quite often hunt together in waves of various species.  I had an enjoyable 20 minutes this morning on the 10th tee watching a mixture of Treecreepers, Spotted Flycatchers, Blue Tits, Long-tailed Tits and the odd Treecreeper.

Spotted Flycatcher [10th Blue]

Treecreeper [10th Blue]

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]

2 April 2022

 

Some sunny weather over the last couple of weeks and a definite shift towards spring.  The Redwings seem to have disappeared by now, although I did see some late Fieldfares flying over earlier this morning.  The resident thrushes are in good voice though.  This Song Thrush sings regularly from near the 3rd tee on the Blue and Mistle Thrushes are abundant on the fairways.

Song Thrush [3rd Blue]

Mistle Thush [4th Blue]

It is good to see some water birds returning to the reservoir.  These Tufted Duck were part of a flock on 5 this morning.  There have also been a pair of Coot quite regularly.

Tufted Ducks [Reservoir]

A few different geese are around the pond on the 3rd Blue.  These Greylag Geese were near the water's edge earlier in the week.

Greylag Geese [3rd Blue]

But these Canada Geese were clearly more experienced and knew the safest place to be whilst I lined up my tee shot.

Canada Geese [3rd Blue]

The large flock of visiting Chaffinches and Bramblings has moved on, but elsewhere on the course there are large flocks of Linnets along with other residents such as Greenfinches and Goldfinches - particularly around the 14th and 15th on the Red.

Greenfinch [15th Red]

Magpies are fairly frequent around the estate, but around the 4th and 5th on the Blue some quite large gatherings appear.  I have seen 8 or 9 together.  This morning there was a flock of 4 around the 4th green.

Magpies [4th Blue]

Whilst playing the 18th on the Green earlier in the week I had a very brief glimpse through my binoculars of a Firecrest high in the trees to the left of the tee.  It's the first time that I've seen one on the course although I know that other people have spotted them.

There were a couple of Kingfishers around the 1st on the Blue this morning - by the pond and the stream behind.

Kingfisher [1st Blue]

.. and numerous Treecreepers on all three courses.

Treecreeper [3rd Blue]

Lots of flowers are starting to appear.  Wavy Bittercress is one that I didn't spot last year and which is growing in great quantities in Boundary Fen.

Wavy Bittercress Cardamine flexuosa [13th Red]

Various violets are also brightening shady areas.

Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana [13th Red]

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]

5 September 2021

As well as the constant surprises as to what you see around the golf course, it is also interesting to note from time to time what you don't see.  Some birds that are common elsewhere are only occasional visitors to the golf course.  House Sparrows are a good example.  The only place that I have seen them on the estate this year is around the edge of the reservoir and in the hedge next to the driving range.  These two females were part of a flock of half a dozen birds in the bushes on the far left of the driving range.

House Sparrows [Driving range]

A male Blackcap also passed through this area.

Blackcap [Driving range]

In somewhat better light, this Treecreeper was next to the path between the 16th and 17th on the Blue.

Treecreeper [17th Blue]

14 July 2021

There were lots of Swallows and House Martins skimming around the car park this morning.  The House Martins were settling just by the car - they seemed to be stopping at puddles to drink and picking up dried grass from the tarmac - although it seems rather late to be building nests - maybe just a bit of DIY.

House Martins [Car park]

In the trees on the left of the 4th Blue there was a family of 4 Spotted Flycatchers, all too quick for me to photograph.  More static, but better camouflaged was this Treecreeper nearby.

Treecreeper [4th Blue]

There were lots of butterflies around this morning:

 

Comma [1st Blue]

Small Tortoiseshell [17th Blue]

.. and plenty of flowers still.  These were in the woodland clearing behind the 6th Blue.

Scentless Mayweed Tripleurospermum inodorum [6th Blue]

Greater Plantain Plantago major [6th Blue]

Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea [6th Blue]

and these in the rough..

Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium [8th Blue]

Pale Persicaria Persicaria lapathifolia [16th Red]

5 July 2021

 

A Hobby is a small falcon that can be seen around the course in summer from time to time.  It feeds on small birds and insects, particularly dragonflies.   This one was flying over the 6th on the Blue.

Hobby [6th Blue]

Plenty more young birds around.  Robins are speckled brown in their first few months before acquiring a red breast and more familiar colouring.

Robin [6th Blue]

Juvenile Great-spotted Woodpeckers are similar to adults but have a red cap.  

Great-spotted Woodpecker [Tubney range]

Juvenile treecreepers are pretty much identical to adults.  This one was being fed by an adult.

Treecreeper [6th Blue]

A couple of new flowers in the rough by the 4th Red:

Perforate St John's-wort Hypericum perforatum [4th Red]

Field Scabious Knautia arvensis [4th Red]

Lots of Pyramidal Orchids out now over the course.  This one was on the 18th Blue.

Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis [18th Blue]

2 March 2021

 

Sunny yesterday, but somewhat greyer today.  A few White Dead-Nettles are starting to flower around the 12th tee on the Red:

White Dead-Nettle Lamium album [12th Red]

A large flock of Fieldfares on the 11th fairway (Blue) with some Starlings and Redwings mixed in.

Fieldfares, Starlings and Redwings [11th Blue]

I had a brief view of a Kingfisher on the 2nd Blue - sadly too brief to get a photo, but this Treecreeper and Green Woodpecker were a little more helpful.

Treecreeper [3rd Blue]

Green Woodpecker [2nd Red]