A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - BIRD LIFE

Throughout the summer the links is full of the sights and sounds of bird life. Skylarks are common both on the ground and in the sky. Warblers together with Swallows and Sand Martins that all spent the winter in Africa have returned for the summer. Oystercatchers are a common sight on the links where they can be seen probing the turf for insects with their long orange beaks. Yellow Hammers can also be seen in good numbers around the two courses.
 The Carrion Crows that nested in the willow trees to the right of the 15th Medal fairway are now rearing young, which have fledged the nest but are still being fed in the area by their parents.

Juvenile Carrion Crow

The markings on this young Carrion Crow are quite unusual. As the bird grows its adult feathers these markings will disappear.

 A few birds that I have photographed over the last month and that I haven't featured or photographed before can be seen below.

 Chiffchaff

This little warbler was spotted on the Broomfield course where its song was heard long before I caught sight of it. Chiffchaffs arrives from southern Europe and northern Africa in late March and April. They build dome shaped nests on or close to the ground.

 Linnet

A member of the Finch family, they can normally be seen in pairs during the breeding season. The males have a red / pink forehead and breast. Quite a few pairs have been seen around the links over the last few weeks. They nest in bushes and small trees, with the nest made out of twigs, moss and feathers.

Bullfinch

This male bird was seen on the Broomfield course. Bullfinch are more of a garden and open woodland bird and aren't seen on our golf courses very often so it was good to get a photo of one on the links.

 Red Legged Partridge

These game birds were introduced from France in the late 17th century. Another bird that isn't seen on the links very often, this one was pecking about in the rough next to the 2nd Medal fairway.

 Song Thrush

 A bird that has declined nationally in numbers over the years. I hadn't seen any for awhile but over the last few month I have seen quite a few on the links. The Song Thrush is well known for using a stone on the ground to smash open the shells of snails in order to get at the body inside.  They build their nests in bushes and small trees and line the nest with a mixture of mud and decayed wood.

Broken snail shells beside the 2nd Medal tee stone - A tale tell sign that a Song Thrush is in the area.

Dunlin

This small wading bird was seen in and beside the burn on the Broomfield course. It looks like a juvenile bird as it doesn't have a dark patch on its belly.

Hopefully I will be able to photograph a few more species of birds over the coming months and add them to what has already been included within the wildlife blogs so far.

Les Rae,
First Assistant,
Montrose Golf Links Limited.


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