Nature News

Sickleholme Nature Notes

May is the month when the course really comes alive and this year was no exception. Part of the improvement is colour and the rest is birdsong, as May will always be the peak month for the latter. Having previously commented on how early spring wildflowers are mainly yellow (and there was still plenty of those about), we now saw the addition of blues as Bluebells appeared in corners of the course and there was a much wider showing of the delightful Germander Speedwell. Add in the blossoms on many of the trees and shrubs and the whole became very photogenic on sunny days.

There was fair range of temperatures during the month but sunny days saw the same six butterfly species mentioned previously with the addition of Small White and a couple of reports of Holly Blue. For the first half of the month, the predominate species was Orange-tip; the males quite unmistakable with their bright orange tips to white wings. Nothing much yet by way of day-flying moths but these will appear as the summer develops and the rough grows longer.

The purpose of bird song is to both attract females and to claim territory, so once things are underway then it is possible to determine the number of pairs likely to breed by counting territories. In species terms, a little experience counts in terms of knowing where to look. The “railway hedge” held good numbers of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, Wrens and Robins could be found right around the course and the central ravine held at least five singing Blackcaps. The website has already highlighted Alan Kydd’s report of the nest boxes and it was gratifying to see that 18 of the 29 small boxes held young birds with a minimum of 71 Blue Tits, 34 Great Tits and 7 Coal Tits. One of the boxes had been taken over by Tree Bees but, far from being a disappointment, this was viewed as good news since we badly need more pollinators and we should be encouraging them be they bees, hoverflies, butterflies or moths. Some of the nest boxes had been predated (probably by Grey Squirrels) but only two have shown no activity at all. Grateful thanks to Alan.

We had to wait until 2 May for the first Swift sightings but by mid-month they were screaming overhead and very noticeable by the first tee, as they nest in several of the houses close to the club entrance. These remarkable birds only land to nest as they have learned to feed, mate and even sleep on the wing. Other personal highlights were at least two territories for Tree Pipits, possibly five for Lesser Redpolls and the first fledged young birds of the year in several juvenile Robins and some post-breeding groups of Mistle Thrush.

A number of the EGGS have started submitting sightings (grateful thanks) and I would be very interested in any dragonfly or damselfly records. These are rare locally, as we have little standing water on the course, but in most cases a description of the colour will be sufficient to identify them. In simple terms, damselflies will be found with their wings folded along the body, whereas dragonflies rest with the wings stretched thus giving the insects a crucifix shape.

Bryan Barnacle