Wildlife

Those brave enough to venture on to the course today, through the hail, driving rain and bitter cold, might have seen the roped-off area around the first tree on the left at the start of the 4th fairway. The tree was host to a large swarm of bees. I have taken photos which I hope will be added to the blog. I am totally ignorant of bee species, and our in-house expert, Mike Grey is currently on holiday!

Another siting this morning by Ian McFarlane of a grass snake in the long grass to the left of the 15th hole near the green - ?? the same snake as seen last Sunday.

My wife Barbara saw and took photos of an adult grass snake on the 13th fairway this morning. It was in transit between the ditch from the 12th tee and the ditch running the length of the hole.They will now become active enjoying the warm sunshine. Last year I saw one swimming across the pond in front of the 13th white tee.
Barbara and her playing partners also saw a muntjac on the preceeding hole.

At last signs of spring, with sunshine and warmer weather. Most of the migrant birds have arrived on the course over the last 2 - 3 weeks, albeit about a fortnight later than usual. Chiffchaffs are resident in their usual territoriess, including one back near the 12th green. Today I saw the male blackcap that has been calling from the hedge alongside the Ladies' 11th tee. I have also heard garden warblers and whitethroats around the course. It would appear that a green woodpecker is nesting in the willows around the pond before the 17th green. I have not yet seen any evidence of the sparrowhawk nesting on the course.

March 21st 2013 - first day of spring, but you'd never believe it with snow forecast! At least there is frogspawn in the pond near the 17th green. Good to see and hear songbirds taking up territories ready for breeding season. A pair of sparrowhawks have been seen prospecting for nest sites around the 12th, 13th and 14th holes. The bonfire site between 8th tee and 9th green has made their previous residence "undesirable" this year!

2 buzzards seen overflying the 1st fairway on Wednesday 20th Feb. Today, a male sparrowhawk scattered 3 blackbirds from the newly cropped hedge along the 6th hole.Finches, tits and woodpeckers all becoming vocal in advance of the breeding season.

A sight to warm the heart on yet another boring, cold, icy, golfless day - whilst sat having lunch in the clubhouse today, a superb adult common buzzard drifted effortlessly over the clubhouse terrace. Such a sight would have been extremely rare in East Anglia 15 years ago.
Earlier in the month, I also saw a sparrowhawk checking out the copse between the 8th tee and 9th green - ? researching this year's nesting site.

John Kyle 09.12.2012

After digesting all the inputs on wildlife I thought it might be of interest the sighting of a female Kestrel on the left of the 13th fairway. She had finished a pidgeon meal leaving only feathers and was so full that we were able to stand next to her without attempt by her to move.

During September and October, I am sure many golfers will have noticed small clumps of dissected horse chestnut shells and conkers on the course, and some may have even witnessed the culprits - grey squirrels, carrying them. This is the first year I have noticed such behaviour. It may be that conkers are their substitute food this year instead of acorns.
I have also noticed at home that our oak tree has failed to produce any acorns / galls this year.
Apparently there has been a failure of the acorn harvest on the continent, especially in Italy, which experts think may be the reason for the recent huge influx of Jays into East Anglia. On one day in late September, over 650 Jays were counted in off the North Sea at Holme, and several hundred more were seen over other North Norfolk sites.

2 juvenile raptors heard calling today - a probable sparrowhawk calling from the woodland between 8th tee and 9th green; and a probable kestrel calling from copse behind the 2nd tee.
Up to 3 muntjac seem to be almost resident on the course over the last 3 weeks.

Red Kite seen 2 weeks ago, drifting southwards very low over hedge along 5th fairway.

3 muntjac seen on 4th July around the 8th & 9th holes.
Female sparrowhawk seen capturing a vole at base of hedge between overflow and main carparks. This occurred at 08:00 during Summer Madness as we walked from the 18th green to the 1st tee.

The pond to the left of the 2nd hole was cleared of reeds today. Afterwards there were hundreds of tiny fish active beneath the surface. Having lost the sanctuary of their "nursery", they will be easy prey for kingfishers.

A Garden Warbler has been singing for several weeks in and around the hedge in front of the 11th tee.

Correction: the woodpeckers fledged near the 4th ladies' tee are GREEN , not greater spotted as I was originally informed. They are currently very active around the 6th, 4th and 3rd holes.

Greater Spotted Woodpeckers have fledged from nest in tree adjacent to pond near Ladies' 4th tee.

For the first time in my 16 years at the Club, whitethroats have been singing in 2 sites: in the cow parsley / nettles between the 12th hole and the start of the 13th fairway; and in the copse between the 15th and 16th fairways.

Great spotted woodpecker in the trees between the 1st and the 10th and a Jay flying around the 14th Green.

Thank goodness some water eventually arrived in the pond on the 17th - now home to plenty of frogspawn since mid April.

25.3.12 - Female Sparrowhawk noted back on territory in copse between 14th, 13th & 12th.
Same day arrival, Chiffchaff heard singing behind 12th green. One has been present every summer for last 16 years.
Green & Greater Spotted Woodpeckers actively calling & drumming on their territories.