Wildlife on your course....

[Fish]

Most golf course all have idyllic settings, some have rivers running through them, nice man made or natural ponds, some run through heavily wooded areas and some unfortunately have none of the above!

So for those that do have a peaceful, tranquil setting other than the swearing disgruntled golfer, what wildlife do you see either consistently or just on that rare occasion?

At Coventry we have many different breeds of Geese and currently the parents are all out walking around the course with their young in tow, also the many breeds of ducks that sit near the water and walk across the fairways from pond to pond or to the river also have their young in tow, we have a lovely pair of Swans at the river in front of our 11th tee and they have built a nest there, I had a Muntjac deer run across in front of me on Friday for the first time, I didn't know we had any deer of any kind at the course, and to be honest, I didn't know what it was at the time.

We have loads of Buzzards soaring and gliding above us but I've not seen or noticed any other kind of bird worth a second look, unfortunately.

So, what great wildlife do you see as you walk around your golf course?

 

[Capella]

Similar to yours, acutally. Geese (mostly Canada geese), ducks, a grey heron (at least a am assuming it is always the same one, it seems to be nailed to the same spot most of the time), buzzards and falcons as well as many smaller singing birds. Lots and lots of crows as well. We used to have a pair of swans nesting there every year, but most members are grateful that they have decided to move on, because they were really aggressive when you got anywhere close to their nest (we actually had a temporary free drop zone). They were also notorious for killing ducklings and goslings, so despite them being beautiful creatures, they are not missed much.

In one of our water hazards we have ridiculously huge carps that can be seen under the water surface when the sun shines on it. Anglers are allowed to come in and fish for them a few days every year to keep the carp population at bay.

The course is surrounded by fields and woodland, so we have a lot of deer and pheasants coming through as well as the occasional fox, but you don't see them that often, unless you play early in the morning or late in the evening. We use to have rabbits as well, but I have a suspicion that the greenkeepers did something to get rid of them, because they used to do a lot of damage to the fairways and even greens and I haven't seen any in a while.

I am sure there are hedgehogs and squirrels around as well, even though I cannot recall ever seeing any on the course. But the landscape is perfect for them.

 

[Hobbit]

Deer occasionally. Buzzards every time. Hundreds of seals, one of which was well impressed with LincolnQuaker's swing.

Oh, and rabbits, and rabbits, and rabbits.

 

[Khamelion]

At Whickham GC we have the obligatory rabat and grey squirrel, dozens of pheasants, Jays, great spotted woodpeckers, the occasional deer and red kites. The kites are beautiful, catch one early morning riding the thermals along the 16th and they are spectacular, huge birds.

 

[the smiling assassin]

Never seen them on the course per se, but from the course - Dolphins

 

[Fish]

I forgot about mentioning the rabbits and squirrels, we have loads of them, we also have a few of these, not sure what they are but a few of them walk around the course and this pair come for breakfast every morning

 

[Capella]

These are pheaants.

 

[Qwerty]

We have the occasional deer, a few pheasants, rabbits etc.
Has anyone any idea what this is though ? It was posted on the clubs twitter.

 

[Fish]

We have the occasional deer, a few pheasants, rabbits etc.
Has anyone any idea what this is though ? It was posted it on the clubs twitter.

Someones headcover :smirk:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Red kites, geese (Canadian and Egyptian) pheasants, deer (Muntjac and Roe), parakeets, rabbits, badgers, adders

 

[louise_a]

We have the occasional deer, a few pheasants, rabbits etc.
Has anyone any idea what this is though ? It was posted it on the clubs twitter.

Its a polecat, a great spot in Chorley

 

[Slab]

Plenty birds but couldn't tell what kind, little red things, yellow ones etc diff types of guinea fowl things (look a bit like dodo's)
This little burrowing weasel type creature is popular with plenty of them running about the place
Sand crabs a plenty
Giant fruit bats (if playing afternoon)
Deer
Version of a hedgehog
Assorted fish
Macaque monkeys
Stray dogs
Lizards & Gecko's

 

[Qwerty]

Someones headcover :smirk:

Its a polecat, a great spot in Chorley

Thanks Louise :thup:

 

[louise_a]

We do have Roe Deer, Rabbits, Grey Squirrel and I did once spot a weasel (or Stoat). There is a good selection of birds including Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Treecreepers. A solitary Pheasant appeared this year and was very popular for a couple of months but sadly he got hit by a car on the Dual Carriageway

 

[Tashyboy]

With half a dozen ponds, all the birds you would expect. This is the time of year you get a bit sad. Moorhen on our 9th had 7 chicks weeks before last probably got 4 or 5 now. Last years it's chicks liked my kitkats. Buzzards a plenty.
GEESE offload every 15 mins I was once told. We have two tiny deer on the course, never seen them. I was playing a 40 yd pitch onto our 11th, I was in the zone and a PP was shouting summat. I could not hear him coz of the wind. Played the shot onto green and he tells me the two deer were running across the green and he di not want me to hit them.
scariest I have seen is the crocs in Mexico, some were huge.

 

[Smiffy]

The "Cooden" fox.
Often seen and the club advise us not to feed it.

 

[PJ87]

The course I play with my dad in Kent has a family of white squirrels

 

[Imurg]

Red kites are so common here that we hardly hive them a second look - lovely birds though
Apart from the run of the mill flappers, we get Green Woodpeckers, a pair of Buzzards and a semi resident Little Egret - think small white heron!
Squirrels, rabbits, hares, muntjac, stoats and more....

 

[Fish]

The "Cooden" fox.
Often seen and the club advise us not to feed it.

I did, it enjoyed my Mars bar but it was a little startling as he walked towards me on the tee, friendly little fella though :thup:

 

[Ian_Bristol]

We have deer that just sit on the grass and unless you get to close don't move, I was playing with a lady golfer once and as she tee'd of a deer ran across the fairway and her golf ball hit it square on the head, it staggered a bit but once the birdies spinning around its head went it ran off.