8th February 2012 - early frost/sunny spells SE3

Summary – the morning dawned to a hard frost with the ground frozen underfoot and saw a second visit to the northern edge of the reserve. The first of the nest boxes sponsored by Barrow Golf Club members were installed in suitable locations in the copse behind the 4th and 11th greens with a further two located near the 5th tee. Woodland birds were again to the fore though a Grey Wagtail feeding around the frozen pools on the track provided the highlight of the day. The continued cold weather had seen the Fieldfare flock continue to build with 200 birds found feeding avidly in the field behind the 13th green.

Copse behind 4th and 11th greens

The nest boxes erected were of a variety of styles the open fronted box will hopefully attracted species such as Robin and Spotted Flycatcher while the hole style box is to attract Blue Tit and Great Tit and perhaps other hole nesting species.

Species List

Blackbird 2

Blue Tit 10

Carrion Crow 2

Chaffinch 6

Common Gull 1

Dunnock 1

Fieldfare 200

Great Tit 4

Greenfinch 1

Grey Wagtail 1

Herring Gull 2

Jay 1

Magpie 4

Mistle Thrush 1

Pied Wagtail 1

Robin 1

Starling 2

Wren 1

Woodpigeon 3

5th February 2012 - bright and frosty/calm

Summary – An early afternoon visit in cold but sunny conditions to the northern periphery of the course revealed the presence of an area of natural indigenous woodland. This is the remnants of the southern edge of Sowerby Woods and was preserved to lessen the visual impact from the course when a large area of woodland was bulldozed to make way for the adjacent industrial estate. Consequently this buffer zone holds the oldest trees to be found within the course boundaries and provides suitable habitat for a good selection of traditional woodland species with Long-tailed Tit, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker amongst the species seen. A charm of seven Goldfinches fed on recently planted alder and in addition the recent snow and frost had induced some cold weather movement with small numbers of Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush seen in the trees beside the 13th fairway while the field bordering the 14th fairway held 100 Fieldfare.

The indigenous woodland along the northern boundary

Species List

Blackbird 2

Blue Tit 4

Carrion Crow 2

Chaffinch 3

Fieldfare 110

Goldfinch 7

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Great Tit 2

Greenfinch 1

Herring Gull 6

Jay 1

Kestrel 1

Long-tailed Tit 6

Magpie 7

Mistle Thrush 3

Oystercatcher 1

Robin 2

Woodpigeon 2

Wren 1

13th January 2012 – early frost then bright and sunny/calm

Summary – after several false starts the weather finally relented to allow the first exploratory visit to the course with the area around the clubhouse and the 17th and 18th holes the main focus of attention. Although the fairways held a few species and the hedgerow bordering Rakesmoor Lane provided the most diversity the highlights involved a Peregrine and Buzzard that soared over the course – both these are good local records.

Peregrine

 

Species List

Black-headed Gull 40

Blue Tit 5

Buzzard 1

Carrion Crow 2

Common Gull 30

Dunnock 1

Herring Gull 10

House Sparrow 3

Magpie 2

Peregrine 1

Robin 1