A sunny but frosty morning today. Just some familiar birds about. These are the first Swallows that I have been able to photograph - on the wire around the reservoir. I saw the first one on 1st April and numbers have been steadily increasing.
Swallow [Reservoir]
The number of pheasants on the course is also starting to increase. It's hard to fathom how many of these are released ahead of the shooting season. According the study that I read, the total number released each year is around 47 million. At the start of the shooting season this means that over 60% of total UK bird biomass is made up of pheasants, i.e. around 150% of the total for the rest of the birds in the UK.
Pheasant [16th Red]
A couple of other familiar birds and animals in the sunshine.
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.
Have walked various bits of the course over the last couple of days. There are definitely signs of spring with flowers starting to appear, birds singing and nesting and even butterflies starting to appear.
Plenty of Crossbills still around on the course. This flock was in the small pine tree to the right of the 11th tee on the Blue, flying down to drink from the large puddle that persists there - not far from where my sliced drive usually ends up.
Crossbills [11th Blue]
They also frequent the pine trees by the greenkeepers shed, such as this male and female.
Crossbills [16th Blue]
Elsewhere, there are Song Thrushes are still very vocal. This is the usual one nesting near the 3rd green on the Blue.
This Mistle Thrush looked to have found a potential nest site behind the 6th Green. I also heard a Skylark for the first time this year to the left of the 2nd on the Blue.
Mistle Thrush [6th Blue]
There are plenty of Hedge Sparrows singing. Their song always sounds very upbeat and cheerful.
and other resident birds.
Woodpigeon [4th Blue]
It is a little early for the main spring migrants, but I did spot this Chiffchaff at the side of the 4th fairway and another singing behind the 6th on the Blue. These are generally summer visitors, although a few do overwinter.
Chiffchaff [4th Blue]
A few flowers are starting to appear. Some are vary obvious, such as the Snowdrops, which are now very visible on the course:
Had a walk around the various bits of the red and blue courses today. I was hoping to see the first spring flowers - there are quite a few snowdrops elsewhere in Tubney, but I couldn't see anything on the course yet.
A few birds about, but nothing particularly unusual.
A couple of Mistle Thrushes on the driving range
A large flock of Siskins on the 9th on the Blue
A Goldcrest by the 12th tee.
Mistle Thrushes [Driving Range]
Goldcrest [12th Red]
Hedge Sparrow [5th Red]
Many thanks to Maurice Alphandary for sending through these pictures and a video of an otter taken in 2011 by a trail camera set up by the greenkeeping staff next to the pond on the 6th on the Blue. Apparently it ate all of the large fish and then moved on.
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.
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.
