Spring Watch

Well it felt like Spring Watch on my round today. My first encounter with nature was when our Professional (David Sutcliffe) pointed out that a pair of robins were building a nest right outside the Proshop. When I asked David what he thought about it he said "they must have heard that we have all new ranges of golf clubs, putters, bags plus Gents and Ladies clothing, TaylorMade, Callaway, Cobra and Ping - call in and take a look!" Well he would wouldn't he!.

Next, i went round to look at Edwina's bird feeder. Edwina has seen blue tits, great tits, long-tailed tits, coal tits, march tits, goldfinches, bullfinches, chaffinches, siskins and greater spotted woodpeckers already this year, so I was delighted to spot an elusive greenfinch.

When we were on the 5th tee, I got my first sighting of an osprey on the course this year. It flew over the 4th green and up the 5th fairway and was off the course in no time! These are big birds (1.3 - 1.8 metre wingspans) and can certainly shift. I couldn't see if it had a catch, but it was probably returning to Foulshaw Moss after having hunted in the pools of Leighton Moss. The female is currently incubating 3 eggs at Foulshaw Moss. Here is the webcam link: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/cams/osprey-cam

My next delight was when I was on the 7th tee. A marsh harrier swooped across the 7th green and landed near the dyke near to Storrs Lane. These are quite commonly spotted, but again, it was my first sighting of one this year.

Finally my playing partner pointed out a colourful butterfly to me on the 10th green (we saw another on the 16th fairway). Again, it was my first sighting this year of of an orange tip. When you see an orange tip like the one in the photo, you are looking at the male. The female orange tip actually has black/grey tips to its wings. They are nice to spot as well.

Anyway I had a thoroughly enjoyable day today with all this nature around me. It certainly felt like "Spring Watch". What about the golf? You may ask. Well we won 2 up! A perfect day...