May Nature Note 2019
Sickleholme Nature Notes
Firstly, many thanks to the growing number of members who are reporting their sightings and who contributed much during May. Botany is not my specialisation but, thanks to others, I was alerted to the first Wood Sorrel and Yellow Rattle of the year (both below the 13th tee) and the course added more colour via flowering Broom, Field Buttercup, Forgetmenot, Germander Speedwell, Bluebell, Red Clover and Greater Stitchwort. I am certain that there are lots more species which we just have to put a name to.
I also had a look at the pond where I found Marsh Marigold, Cuckoo Flower and Yellow Iris plus several more species of water plants. All of the latter bode well for a good mix of invertebrates later on and the first dragonfly sighting can’t be far away. The only new butterfly species for the year was Large White but June will surely bring more. Happily, bees and hoverflies were well in evidence and we certainly need as many pollinators as we can attract.
Alan Kydd checked the bird boxes and announced that it was potentially the most successful breeding season since he started upgrading and monitoring the boxes in 2014. No sign yet of occupants for the two owl boxes, and the open-fronted box where the Robins nested last year was lost to the hedge removal behind the 12th green, but the tit boxes showed an occupancy rate of more than 80%. Good news indeed, although probably indicating the lack of natural nesting places these days. Our grateful thanks to Alan for all of his efforts.
Blue Tits bred in eight boxes with 61 young fledging or due to fledge, Great Tits took over 16 boxes, producing 94 young, and a pair of Coal Tits raised eight young in another box. Interestingly, three empty boxes had clearly been used as winter roosts which shows that the boxes provide an all year-round benefit to our birds. Alan also added to our growing bird list with a singing Garden Warbler amongst the dawn chorus that he can enjoy during his very early morning visits. Swifts (see image) were slow to arrive, and seemingly in smaller numbers so far, but could be seen and heard near the entrance by mid-month.
Bryan Barnacle
