Nature Notes - January 2023
Sickleholme Nature Notes
Although January was again a month with fewer wildlife reports (largely due to the vagaries of the weather and course closures), there are a few snippets of news that I hope are of interest to members.
Patrick and members of the greens staff are working on the practice ground pond. Although this may look a little severe initially, the results will assist the creatures that use the pond. The fringe grasses had got a bit too thick and the growth in the pond had reduced the visible surface area. Clearing some of the Water Lily, for example, will improve oxygen levels and allow more space for the breeding dragonflies. After removing some of the lilies, they will be piled by the pond for a couple of days to allow any invertebrates to relocate, after which Patrick has suggested that these plants be made available to members for their own ponds.
Two creatures that have never previously been mentioned in these notes are moles and spiders. The former (hardly a greenkeeper’s friend!) can be active quite early in the year and although rarely seen above the surface, the molehills below the 13th green are fresh and evidence of recent activity. We certainly have many species of spiders on the course and these in turn form an important part of the food chain. I have never studied arachnids although a while back I met a man who said that he was the County Spider Recorder. I was surprised that such a position existed! Spiders can be active in winter too and I doubt that I would have even noticed the fine web in the attached photo image had it not been accentuated by the frost.
There have been some signs of Spring around the course, with Hazel catkins now showing, our Pied Wagtails back near their annual nest site and noisy Jays arguing about territories. The only visible wildflowers that I have noticed in flower are a few pieces of Gorse, but hopefully next month should deliver more for us.
Bryan Barnacle Â
