A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - JULY

This month I will highlight some of the insect life that can be found on the golf courses. Many of these can go unnoticed but with a closer look there are many different types to be found. A selection of other  photographs taken this month can also be seen below.

BUTTERFLIES , MOTHS AND CATERPILLARS

Common Blue

Common Blue
One of the most striking  butterflies to be seen on the links.

Six-spot Burnet Moth
Both the Moth and the Caterpillar are poisonous.

Cinnabar Caterpillar
The cinnabar moth lays its eggs almost entirely on the Ragwort
plant on which the caterpillar feeds. Ragwort is a poisonous plant
which can spread quickly if left alone. We spend time removing it
by hand but there are always enough plants left to ensure that these
Moths and caterpillars continue to be seen around the links.

Meadow Brown
One of Britain's most common butterflies. The females are
unusual in that they are more distinctive than the males. 

Ringlet
This butterfly is a common sight on the links. The name comes
from the large false eyes on the underside of all four wings.

Garden Tiger

One of the largest caterpillars to be seen on the links.

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INSECTS

Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee
There are 25 species of Bumble Bee in the UK. Bees play an
important part in plant pollination. Unfortunately numbers of
bees have been in decline in recent years.

Soldier Beetle

These beetles are often abundant on flower heads such

as Cow Parsley.

Common Field Grasshopper
These are more often heard rather than seen but are widespread
over the two courses. Very hard to see in the grass as this photo
proves.

Seven Spot Ladybirds
Ladybirds can be seen on plants, where they feed on aphids.
This picture was taken in the long grass to the right of the 6th Medal hole.

Millipede
Because of their small size, about 3-4 cm long, the only time they
 are easily spotted are when they making their way across the greens.

Spider
Britain has 40 species of orb-web spiders, which spin the disc-
shaped webs traditionally associated with spiders.
There are large numbers of spiders all over the links, it becomes
evident just how many there are in damp misty conditions when
 all the gorse bushes can be clearly seen covered in webs of all sizes.
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BIRDS

Pied Wagtail
This Pied Wagtail and its mate can be seen around the green-
keepers sheds. They have nested behind a boarded up window
in the old cottage. The grass nest lined with feathers usually
contains 5-6 pale grey speckled dark eggs.

Sand Martin and nest tunnels

Sand Martins
A good number of Sand Martins have made nests in the dune
face close to the 6th medal tee. The nest tunnel can be as much
 as a metre deep. A feather lined nest is made ito which 4-5 pure
white eggs are laid. Unfortunately due to the unstable nature of
the dune face it is doubtful if any will successfully rear any
 young.

Whitethroat
This summer visitor can be seen around the links. It is a member
of the Warbler family and spends the winter south of the Sahara.
It can be quite a noisy bird for its size. Its hair lined nest is usually
 sited low down in brambles, gorse etc in which it lays 4-5  pale
 buff eggs , spotted with dark brown / grey.
edit:
Since publishing the article it has been brought to my attention that the above bird may be that of a Willow Warbler and not a Whitethroat. With further help of a Scottish Wildlife Trust Ranger , she is of the opinion that it could well be a Willow Warbler.

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WILD FLOWERS / PLANTS

Maiden Pink

Maiden Pink

A member of the Dianthus family, this small plant can be seen

in the rough of the seaward holes of the medal course, especially

 the 6th and 7th holes. It is quite a scarce plant in Scotland. One of

 its main strong holds appear to be on Montrose and Kinaber links.

Harebell
Known as the Bluebell to most Scots, this flower can be seen
all over the links.

Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon
Also called Goats Beard, this plant attracts attention on sunny mornings
when its dandelion like flowers are out. They quickly disappear
about midday hidden within long pointed finger like bracts.

Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon
After flowering has passed large downy clocks ( seed heads )
can be seen. There are quite a few of these plants in front of
the 6th Ladies tee on the medal course.

Yellow Rattle
Yellow Rattle is sometimes known as rattle-box because of the
sound produced by the ripe seeds inside their capsules. It is a
partly parasitical plant, which fixes its roots onto the root system
of adjoining grass, and extracts water and minerals from it. 

Purple Milk -Vetch
The flowers are very like those of Clover but the leaves are
totally different, being divided into numerous leaflets covered
with soft whitish hairs.

Sycamore
A photo of winged seed heads. There are numerous self seeded
Sycamore saplings within the gorse bushes on the Broomfield
 course, especially around the 6th and 9th holes.
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ANIMALS

Stoat
This one is pictured crossing the path at the 7th medal tee.

Stoats
A family of stoats can often be seen close to the 7th medal tee.
Other sightings have been seen over the 2 courses. Hopefully
they will help to bring rabbit numbers down. In winter their
coats turn creamy white except for the tip of the tail which stays
black, they are then called ermine.

Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are not seen very often on the links, I'm not sure if its
because they are shy and often only come out at night or that their
numbers are declining in general. This one was spotted close to the
14th medal tee.
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Next Month I will  explain some of the measures that we have taken to try and increase the patches of Heather growing on the links.




Les Rae
First Assistant
Montrose Golf Links Limited.



ROUGH MOWING - 2

                                                         
                                                         ROUGH MOWING


Now we are into the summer season the growth rates in the rough areas on the courses has increased significantly due to the warm and damper conditions.
Currently the new articulator rough mower has been out sometimes on a weekly basis to maintain the these areas so the rough does not become too long and thick as this causes problems locating golf balls.
The Amazone flail mower has been out on two occasions cutting the right hand side of the 9th and both sides of the 13th and in between the 1st and 18th on the medal course these are the areas where the the growth is more prominent also two or three bouts have been done round each fairway on the Broomfield course to keep this course user friendly.
For environmental reasons vast areas of rough on the links are left unmanaged. This helps to ensure   that the marram grass, sea lyme and other wild flowers which are natural to the links environment continue to flourish, while at the same time leaving the ground nesting birds undisturbed.

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - JUNE

At Montrose Golf Links our aim is to maintain the golf courses to the highest standards and in keeping with the traditions of links golf. We try to manage the links in an environmentally and wildlife friendly manner while staying true to the origins of links golf at Montrose.  

 The history and ecology of the links are two important elements we felt could be highlighted better. In 2007 it was decided that two large display boards, one depicting the history and the other the ecology, would be designed.The Greens Convenor at the time, Morag Boyd, together with the then Course Manager Richard Cutler and myself  worked together at producing the final designs. These were  erected and sited next to the pro shop, overlooking the main road, this enables both golfers and the general public a chance to view them.

                                                                           

History board

Ecology board

 At this time an additionional 13 smaller plaques were produced and sited around the two courses. These were fixed to old  yardage stones that had been previously removed from the tees. Four of these can be seen below.

                                                                                 

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The Wheatear

Among the first of the summer migrants these birds arrive from Africa around early April and stay with us until September. This striking bird can occasionally be seen on the golf courses but is more often seen out at the turf nursery beside the old airfield. The male bird has grey upper parts, black mask and wings. The black tail with white sides show a bold 'T' pattern. It nests in holes in the ground, in walls and often old rabbit burrows. The breeding season is between early May and late June. The nest usually comprises of 6 pale blue eggs

photo showing the wheatears distinctive black tail

 and white sides
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                          The Crow family                         

There are three members of the crow family that can often be seen on the links:- the Carrion Crow, the Jackdaw and the Rook. All three spend a lot of time foraging for grubs and other insects in the rough and on the fairways of both courses. Of the three, only the Carrion Crow nests on the links. This year there are at least four nesting pairs on the two courses one of which can be seen in the willow trees between the 15th Medal and 4th Broomfield fairways. All three pictures below were taken next the 15th Medal Fairway where the birds have been spending a lot of time pecking about looking for Leatherjackets ( the grub stage of the Cranefly, better known as the Daddy long-legs ).

Carrion Crow
Often quite solitary birds though they can be seen feeding in
 groups. They nest in trees between March and July laying 4-6
eggs.



Carrion Crow nest close to the 8th Medal tee.



Rook
These birds often look a bit scruffy with a bare area at the base
of the beak. They are normally seen in larger groups and will
often nest together in trees in large numbers called rookeries.
They lay  3-6 eggs between March and June.  

Jackdaw
The smallest of the three, the body is greyer than the others
and it has a jet black cap. They nest in holes in trees, buildings
and old chimneys. They lay 4-6 eggs between April and July.
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A few of the other birds photographed on the courses this
 month are pictured below.

Yellowhammer
These colourful birds can be seen all over the Links. This one was
sitting at the top of a gorse bush next to the 5th Medal tee.

Wood Pigeon
A common bird regularly seen on the links

 Chaffinch

 pictured early one morning, singing from the top a bush on the

Broomfield course.

Swallows

Sitting on top of the greenkeepers sheds. Every morning, as soon

the main doors are opened, they fly in and continue to do so all 

day. Unfortunately due the motion sensor security system we 

have to make sure they are kept out overnight otherwise I am

sure they would have nested on one of the overhead beams. 

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Roe Deer

Roe deer can often be seen on the courses. These two can be seen
crossing the 17th Broomfield fairway. There have been recent sightings
of very young fawns close to the 13th Medal fairway.

The 3 Pictures above were taken beside the 14th Medal winter tee

where the deer didn't seem too bothered by my presence.

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                                                                        Wild flowers





A selection of wild flowers that have been seen on the links this month are pictured below.

Thrift

  A typical sea-side plant.

Pictured to the left of the 5th Medal fairway.

Buttercup

A patch to the right of the gully at the 3rd on the

 Medal course.

Common Star Of Bethlehem.

A few clumps of this plant can be seen behind the 12th

Medal green and also to the left of the 16th Broomfield fairway. 





Red Campion 

 Grows to about 3 feet tall and is fairly

common around the links.

Foxgloves 

 Not seen in as good numbers as in previous years although a few

 clumps can still be seen around the courses like these close to the

 13th Medal tee.

Wild Blue Geranium

A few clumps of this geranium can be seen near the back

maintenance track behind the 4th medal hole.

Wild Poppy 

 The seeds of the poppy can remain

dormant in the soil for many years and often germinate

when the soil is disturbed.  These were seen close

to the greenkeepers sheds.

Wild Rose 

 A few of these bushes can be seen around

the courses. The one above is growing to

 the right of the 4th Medal fairway.

Honeysuckle 

 Can be seen in good numbers on the Broomfield course,

 especially  around the 6th and7th holes where the use gorse

 bushes for support.

Flag Iris

Photograph taken at the wash bay reed

bed, where they are now in full flower.

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Next month I will highlight some of the insect life that can be found on the links together with more photos of birds, plants etc.

Les Rae

First Assistant

Montrose Golf Links Limited