Woodlake Golf and Country Club
Woodlake Golf and Country Club is situated between Pontypool and Usk and in the Borough of Monmouthshire. It is one of the best Golf Courses in Wales in terms of the course layout, stunning USPGA standard greens but also exceptional views of Llandegfedd Reservoir, Brecon Beacons National Park and the Black Mountain range. I have well over 100 nest boxes erect at Woodlake Park for species such as House Sparrow, Bluet tit, Great tit, Barn Owl, Nuthatch, Tawny Owl and Coal tit.
During the 2012 breeding season we had 68 nest boxes occupied by mainly Nuthatch, Great tit, Blue tit and Tawny Owl. The Tawny Owl was a great success and we now have 3 other Tawny Owl boxes erect around the grounds.
For breeding season 2013 we are hopeful of erecting 2 Barn Owl boxes set on 15 foot high telegraph poles. Work on this project will start very soon.
Below left is the actual image of one of Woodlake Parks Nuthatch boxes with 8 eggs laid and 7 chicks reaching adulthood. Unfortunately Blue tit had a bit of a hammering this year due to a poor weather condition which coincided with the lack of green Caterpillar which both Blue tit and Great tit come to rely on. Both species lay there eggs around about when the green caterpillar spring to life.
As you can see in the images above we were fortunate enough to attract a pair of Nuthatch in one of the nest boxes and the pair successfully reared 8 chicks to adulthood despite adverse weather conditions during the 2012 breeding season.
Without the permission and help from these guys above my Woodlake Park colony would not exist. Above left is young Harry Wood who is Howards (course owner) son and a young lad who enjoys the outdoors and especially wildlife. Harry has a passion for animals and loves working on the family farm and is not put off by getting his hands dirty when it comes to farm chores. He is also a massive help to me with regard my Nest box project and is always there to help out in all weather conditions. He is very enthusiastic and is always asking questions and taking everything on board at the same time.
For several years the Water Pump House at Woodlake has been home for a pair of Pied Wagtails. They have made their nest inside the pump house in various positions and this year 2012 they built it inside the electric box. They laid 5 eggs with 4 hatching and successfully rearing 4 chicks.
