Druids Glen Resort Wildlife Programme 2011

The Resort is a registered sanctuary for wild life and walking around the estate and the two 18 hole championship golf courses with it’s rivers, lakes and woods it is easy to understand why there is so much wild life.

The good weather contributed to the wonderful show of blossom on the wild cherry trees on the avenue up the Druids Glen Club House and I am sure the black birds, thrushes and finches look forward to the fruit.

The varied spices of flora on the two courses are at their very best and the rhododendrons and azaleas together with the white thorn near the water create a special tranquillity in the early evening.

The cock pheasants are in evidence and many of the hens will I hope have a second clutch of eggs. It was a good season for the chicks with dry sunny weather as wet weather with cold mornings is not suitable for rearing pheasant chicks. The cock pheasant keeps well away from the nests as his bright plumage would attract predators to the eggs or chicks. The cocks are very territorial and the large cock at the back of the hotel can be heard early in the morning announcing his presence and telling other young cocks to stay away from his hens.

You will see nesting boxes on trees around the estate and they are popular with the blue tits but other birds will use them but it’s a first come situation. I put them up on Druids Heath in some of the open areas to encourage nesting but now that the gorse is strong there are lots of nesting opportunities.

The badgers set at the back of the 12th in the Glen is very active and on the nice sunny mornings they pull out their bed to dry. They walk around the estate at night time and forage in the woods and it is important to leave them in peace and not interfere with their routine.

Swans are important residents in the Druids Glen Resort and nest on our islands in the lakes. The exception are the pair on the way up to the hotel who are perched on the edge of the lake in front of the apartments. The residents keep a watchful eye on them and will report progress.

This morning the first seven young signets were with their parents on the lake on the 17th hole in Druids Glen. The nest is on the island near the 15th hole and is quite safe from predators. There is another nest on the island near the 13th green and I expect to see signets very soon.

I notice an increase in the number of jay thrushes and this reflects the increase in the number of small birds and this is natures way of balancing the population.
Wood peckers are back in Ireland and I did hear one in the glen so I am sure we will have more sightings. They are in they are becoming more numerous in the area so be on the look out and keep your ears peeled.

I wish you a happy visit and if you meet me on the estate please say “hello”.

Derek Mulrooney
Honorary Wild Life Conservator