Nature Notes - September 2026
Sickleholme Nature Notes
The progression into September brought both the meteorological and traditional dates for the beginning of autumn and it certainly felt so on many of the mornings, with a heavy dew frequently in evidence. A number of our trees changed colour, but leaf fall was even more apparent most probably because of the dry summer. Berries appeared, with Rowan (see image) well represented including the splendid tree by the 12th tee . A few Harebells were still in flower early in the month and they seem to have spread more widely again this year, which is splendid news.
Whilst playing on the 24th, David Gilman called me over to look at a creature perched on his golf ball and I was delighted to see a Small Copper butterfly. A slightly less common species than most that we see around the course but the first report here for 2026 and I can’t ever recall a personal sighting at Sickleholme. My photo image was actually taken a while back as I had no camera with me on the day.
Bird reports were much as expected with our young Buzzards still noisily pleading with the adults for food. There were reports of a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and two tiny Goldcrest competing in song, but these must surely be territorial claims rather attempts to attract breeding partners. One comedic moment saw a Magpie strutting along a spar of what was the barn roof; either confused by the changes or considering new opportunities!
Early morning records of Roe Deer came from the EGGS, which might be expected from the “Early-rising Gentlemen Golfers of Sickleholme”, but we remain grateful to everyone who finds time to report their sightings. Please continue let me have them.
Bryan Barnacle
Rowan berries
Small Copper