12 March 2022

 

I had a walk around the Blue first thing this morning.  It is definitely starting to feel spring-like with Daffodils and Primroses starting to flower around the courses.  Migrant birds are also arriving.  This Chiffchaff was on the left of the 5th and is the first one that I have seen this year.

Chiffchaff [5th Blue]

Great Tits are very vocal around the course.   

Great Tit [5th Blue]

There is also a pair of Reed Buntings nesting in the reeds on the left of the 3rd.

Reed Bunting [3rd Blue]

14 March 2021

 

Had a quick trip down to the 2nd on the Blue early this morning to have a look for the Kingfishers.  Having caught glimpses of them over the last week or so and spoken to the greenkeepers, the most reliable place to see them is the stream in front of the green on this hole.

Kingfisher [2nd Blue]

It is always a privilege to see Kingfishers. There was a pair today, moving between the hazard posts and in and out of the stream and then onto the bridge.

Kingfisher [2nd Blue]

In the bottom photo you can see the iridescent feathers on the back that provides the flash of turquoise when a Kingfisher flies past - as you can see at the end of the brief video below.

A pair of Grey Wagtails also frequent this area.  Here they are on top of the same bridge.  

Grey Wagtails [2nd Blue]

There really are a lot of birds in this area of the course, whilst watching the Kingfishers I also saw a pair of Moorhens, Goldfinches and Siskins feeding on the fallen seeds, Mistle Thrushes, Redwings and Blackbirds feeding on the fairway, a Wren flying between the stream and its nest, a Great Tit singing and Green Woodpeckers flying across the fairway.

Great Tit [2nd Blue]

I had a quick look at the reservoir on the way back to the car park and there were a pair of Greylag Geese in addition to 5 noisy Canada Geese.

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]

22 November 2020

 Misty morning that cleared to bright sunshine.  Had a walk round most of the three courses.

Plenty of small bird around.  Saw the flock of Crossbills (around 30) again flying around the 16th Green on the Blue and also flying across the 14th on the Red - but didn't manage to spot any settle.

Pair of Grey Wagtails on the boggy area to the left of the 14th on the Red.  Also on the 14th on the Red the bird feeders seem to be getting plenty of custom from Great Tits and Blue Tits.

Great Tit [14th Red]

Robin [15th Red]

Muntjac Deer [15th Red]

Blackbird [15th Green]

Raven [14th Red]

Redwing [15th Red]

Hedge Sparrow [1st Red]

Still the odd bit of colour as well:

Red Campion Silene Dioica [15th Red]

8 November 2020

Rather murky today.  A few mammals about:

Muntjac Deer between the 14th and 15th on the Red.

Muntjac Deer [14th Red]

Lots of squirrels around as always. 

Grey Squirrel [18th Blue]

I managed to spot a weasel in the hedge on the left of the 2nd on the Blue, but wasn't quick enough to get a photo.

Crossbills seem to be all over the course, even where there are no pine trees.  Saw a male behind the 5th tee on the Blue.  This one was at the top of one of the tall pines to the left of the 12th on the Red.

Crossbill [12th Red]

Other birds included:

Great Tit [3rd Blue]

Green Woodpecker [3rd Blue]

Hedge Sparrow [3rd Blue]

Robin [3rd Blue]

Goldfinch [4th Blue]

Red-legged Partridge - 15th Red

Not much in flower at the moment. I found this Musk Mallow on the footpath by the 5th on the Red - thanks to Gareth Clay for the identification.

Musk Mallow Malva moschata [5th Red]

Quite a lot of fungi about still.  I believe that this is a Parasol.

Parasol - Macrolepiota procera [5th Red]