Arrival at the clubhouse at 0700hrs was greeted by a heavy downpour which fortunately quickly cleared. The delay led to the discovery of a colony of Banded Snail near the car park, this is a polymorphic species which has individuals of notably different appearance living in the same area.
Banded Snails
At least one Roe Deer was still in the vicinity of the 8th hole plantation and a Pygmy Shrew was in the rough beside the 15th tee. Flowering plants that have recently come into bloom on the course include Daisy, Greater Stitchwort and Red Campion along the woodland fringe at the northern edge of the course, Purple Dead-nettle near the clubhouse and Cuckoo Flower (also known as Lady’s Smock) along the margins of the 6th pond.
Cuckoo Flower and Greater Stitchwort
A total of 34 species of bird were identified during the undertaking of a core transect survey with a further five species added to the course list which now stands at 62 species. Many of the resident species are now turning their attentions to the breeding season and more summer migrants are now beginning to arrive from Africa. A Willow Warbler sang from the 8th plantation and a Swallow hawked in the lee of the wind over the 8th tee. Further Willow Warblers were heard along the edge of the 7th fairway and in the woodland behind the 5th tee where a Blackcap and Chiffchaff also sang. The freshly cut greens attracted several Pied Wagtails and two pairs of Moorhen are now on the course with birds frequenting the 6th and 9th ponds. A Jay was again in the woodland along the northern edge. Two Whimbrel flew east over the course heading to their breeding grounds across the North Sea while three Canada Geese were likely visitants from nearby Ormsgill Reservoir. A pair of Linnet was still prospecting the gorse in the vicinity of the 15th tee and a Kestrel hunted over the 9th tee.
Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Swallow
Birds Species List
Blackbird (8)
Blackcap (1)
Black-headed Gull (1)
Blue Tit (4)
Canada Goose (3)
Carrion Crow (2)
Chaffinch (10)
Chiffchaff (2)
Coal Tit (3)
Collared Dove (2)
Dunnock (3)
Goldcrest (1)
Goldfinch (8)
Great Tit (6)
Greenfinch (4)
Herring Gull (10)
House Sparrow (1)
Jackdaw (2)
Jay (1)
Kestrel (1)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (30)
Linnet (3)
Magpie (4)
Mallard (1)
Moorhen (3)
Pied Wagtail (5)
Robin (6)
Rook (17)
Starling (5)
Swallow (1)
Whimbrel (2)
Willow Warbler (4)
Woodpigeon (3)
Wren (4)
The moth trap was again set overnight but only attracted a handful of moths with Powdered Quaker the only addition to the list.
Moth Species List
Hebrew Character (6)
Powdered Quaker (1)
Water Carpet (1)
