Nature Notes - August 2021

Sickleholme Nature Notes

Most of the reports or comments that reached me during August related to bird species, although Jeff Farnell did find a Frog. Whilst that would seem a common enough creature, I haven’t been able to recall a previous site record. Indeed, the only frogspawn that I have ever seen in the pond turned out to have been introduced by a well-meaning member (translocation is not usually recommended, as it can introduce unwanted pathogens). It would be nice to think that we may have a colony now.

Looking around the clubhouse feeders shows just how many of the birds are juveniles which have emerged from eggs this year. A good proportion are Blue Tits and Great Tits (many probably from our own nest boxes) whilst sightings from around the course have included young Pied Wagtails from the nest in the barn, a noisy young Buzzard which seems to be constantly begging its parents for food and a few first year Blackbirds.

Some species are actually noticeable by their absence. The Swifts that feed over the course (some of the houses close to the club entrance have long provided nest sites) had headed southwards by midmonth and some common birds such as Dunnock and Blackbird stay out of sight at this time of year, as their feather moult restricts their ability to fly well.

Many species are also quieter as the need to sing is over for a while, but the deep call of the Raven has alerted me to fly-over birds on several occasions and our Nuthatches still seem quite vocal at present. Nuthatch is a species that has adapted well to the feeding station and will shortly be storing food (see this month’s image from a previous year) ready for the winter. This may be accelerated by the changes on the course which are already creating an autumnal feel. Rowan berries are well advanced and will provide food for a number of thrush species, whilst the colours provided by the Betony and Harebells have now faded, with the purple flowers of the Knapweed soon to follow. Our Silver Birches have started to shed leaves, whilst over two days towards the end of the month some of the fairways were littered with small twigs from the mature Oak trees. The varied weather of a strange summer has certainly been a challenge for our trees and shrubs. On the plus side, the planted heathers around a number of the tees have brightened some areas very nicely.

Bryan Barnacle