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Nature Notes - April 2023

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Sickleholme Nature Notes

There were many new sightings in April so, once again, grateful thanks to everyone who takes the time to let me know what they have seen. There has also been a lot of work done on and around the course, including Patrick’s efforts on the pond. After thinning out much of the vegetation he followed best practice by leaving the cut material to the side of the pond for a few days. That allows any creatures removed with the vegetation to find their way back into the water. His reward was a number of small frogs, newts and a vole, which again shows the variety in what is present. The work done will much benefit the inhabitants and will be of particular help to several species of dragonflies that have been recorded there in recent years.

Those lunching in the lounge on the 13th were entertained by a pair of Long-tailed Tits which were using the hanging basket brackets as rest points whilst picking spider webs off the clubhouse surrounds. They then flew into nearby bushes and would have been using the webs to line their hammock-shaped nest which is created mainly from moss. The 14th saw the EGGS/Ladies event and another batch of records. The banks of the brook below the 5th tee held many Wood Anemones and the first Cowslips of the year, whilst on the way down from the 13th tee Anne Riddick pointed out a small patch of Wood Sorrel which had burst into flower. Our Buzzards are normally seen and heard overhead but Larry Harfoot was the first to sight one walking up the 12th fairway on the same day. The bird was clearly seeking worms which are very much part of a Buzzard’s diet, particularly when the lack of thermals makes soaring less easy.

By the 19th of the month, a warmer spell had produced a good number of hoverflies (valuable pollinators), the first Orange-tip butterflies of the year (my photo is of a male), some early Swallows and plenty of bird song. The latter included the Curlews north of the 9th tee, and in the East Field, which were reported by a number of members and greens staff. Matt also mentioned Roe Deer which are most often seen early morning and before golfers appear on the course. All in all, plenty to enjoy with hopefully much more to come as the summer progresses.

Bryan Barnacle

Orange Tip

Orange Tip