Scurdie Ness Lighthouse.
A view of Scurdie Ness Lighthouse with Montrose beach in the foreground. The photo was taken from the 3rd Medal Tee.
Together with Montrose steeple the lighthouse provide the main visual features when entering the town. Built by engineers David and Thomas Stevenson it was first lit 1870. During the second world war it was painted black and in 1987 it was automated. On a clear day from the top you can see as far as North Berwick (about 50 miles Away ).
This month I will explain why large numbers of Pink feeted Geese either stop off or stay for the winter at Montrose. I have also included a number of other photographs of life that has been spotted on the golf courses this month.
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Pink Footed Geese
Every morning at this time of year, just as daylight comes in, large skenes of geese can be seen taking off from Montrose Basin and heading out to graze in the surrounding fields. Good views of the skenes can be viewed from the golf courses as they head north . As dusk begins to fall they return to the basin where they spend the night.
A skene of Pink Footed Geese.
The Pink Footed geese are only found at Montrose over the autumn and winter months. They start to arrive in September flying in from their breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland 2,250km away.
The geese are attracted to Montrose basin because of the safety of the roost site together with the ample feeding grounds on the surrounding land. Some spend the whole winter at Montrose, while others travel further south, some reaching as far as Norfolk and Suffolk.
The reserve staff together with volunteers undertake counts to determine the number of geese present. On the 19th of October, just under 79,000 were counted which was the largest amount ever recorded.
A view over the basin to Montrose and the North Sea beyond.
The photograph above shows the basin with Montrose in the background and the North sea out in the distance. The golf courses are situated on a narrow strip of land between the town and the sea. As this picture shows Montrose itself sits very close to sea level and is surrounded by water on 3 sides. The basin reserve itself is home to wide variety of wildlife, this is due to the numerous different zones including fresh, sea and brackish water, mud, marshland, reed beds and unmanaged arable land.
Montrose Basin visitor centre sign.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust visitor centre is an excellent place to spend a few hours if you are in the area. It is full of information and items related to the reserve and the surrounding area. The glass fronted building affords great views of the basin and the Angus countryside beyond. A good range of binoculars, telescopes and books are provided to help view and identify the wildlife. There is also a well stocked shop with wildlife related items for sale. Hot and cold drinks are also available.
There are also a number of smaller hides situated around the reserve which allow you to obtain a more close up view of life on the basin.
The winter opening hours for the visitor centre are:
1st Nov - 28th Feb
Fri, Sat and Sun.
10.30am - 4pm.
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Other photographs of interest taken on the golf courses this month can be seen below.
BIRDS
Common Buzzard.
Common Buzzard.
This large bird of prey has been a frequent visitor to the golf course over the last few weeks. It has mostly been spotted at the north end of the course where it can be seen looking for worms on the fairways. Although during the summer these birds don't come onto the courses as often they can still be seen gliding high in the sky on thermals during hot spells of weather. I believe that they nest to the north of the courses in the Kinaber conifer plantations.
Grey Heron.
Grey Heron.
This striking bird is an occasional visitor to the golf courses. This single bird landed at the burn on the Broomfield course where it spent some time searching the water for prey, probably small fish and frogs of which the burn has plenty.
Blackbird.
The large areas of gorse around the two courses provide good cover and numerous nesting sites for this common bird
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FUNGI
Mucilago Crustacea.
Although not classed as fungus this unusual slime mould is studied by mycologists. A large number of these slime moulds could be seen in the rough grassland over the links during the last week of November . Its not something that I have come across before and has probably flourished due to the un-seasonably mild weather that we have experienced through November. It has the rather unpleasant common name of Dogs Vomit slime mould.
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Next month I will highlight another Nature Reserve that can be seen from the Medal course together with any other pictures of wildlife etc that I have photographed on the courses during December.
Les Rae,
First Assistant,
Montrose Golf Links Limited.
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