1 March 2025

 

I haven't posted for a while as I haven't seen much to write about over the winter.  There seem to have been the normal flocks of Redpoll and Siskins and quite a few Redwing, such as the one below, but nothing too spectacular.

Redwing [1st Blue]

However, today I went for a walk around the front few holes of the Blue this morning and came across a pair of Teal on the pond by the 3rd.  These are small ducks and the male is quite spectacular when you see it in the sunlight.  The male has a red and green head, whilst the female is dressed for camouflage rather than show.  This is the first time that I have seen them on the estate and whilst they may be looking to nest, I suspect that the resumption of play on the opening holes of the Blue may put them off.

Teal - male [3rd Blue]

Teal - female [3rd Blue]

There were also plenty of Coot and Moorhen, as well as Mallard and Mute Swans on the ponds by the 3rd and 4th.

Coot [3rd Blue]

6 October 2024

 

I haven't seen much of note around the estate for the past couple of months, so haven't posted for a while, but I played golf this weekend in the sunshine (Saturday) and the rain (Sunday) and came across a few things. I saw a stoat for the first time in a while on the 11th Blue, but it was too quick for me to get to my bag and get the camera.

On the next hole, this young Grey Heron was more obliging.  I suspect that it is the same one that I usually see on the 3rd and 4th holes.  This is the first time that I have seen it on the 12th - it was looking intently in the grass behind the green - presumably for frogs or mice - I'm not quite sure.

Grey Heron [12th Blue]

On the same hole the next day I came across a group of three Red-legged Partridges.  I see these occasionally on the Blue course - usually running away.

Red-Legged Partridges [12th Blue]

On the Red course I came across a Red Kite feeding on what looked like a rabbit.

Red Kite [15th Red]

The Stonechats still seem to be around the course.  I have seen them occasionally over the summer, but not with any regularity.  There was a pair near the reservoir.

Stonechat [Reservoir]

Plenty of Rooks around the course at the moment looking for grubs in the fairways. 

Rook [11th Blue]

I hit a great shot 5 wood onto the green close on the 11th and you can understand my distress seeing one of the Rooks take a liking to my ball, roll it off the green and carry it off into the rough.  

This is the second time that I have seen corvids do this.  Here is a similar occurrence with a Carrion Crow a couple of years ago..

https://youtu.be/lSL9wEph1Sk

14 July 2024

 I had a walk in the sunshine this morning.  In July and August there are usually a lot of juvenile birds around the estate.  They have typically fledged by now and are learning to feed, often in a family party.  The noisiest family parties are definitely Green Woodpeckers.  There are lots of them around the courses at the moment.  This juvenile was one of several calling very loudly for several minutes to the left of the 3rd Blue.

Green Woodpecker [3rd Blue]

When I took a detour from the 3rd tee to investigate the reason for the commotion became clear - you can see a nearby Buzzard in the background of the next picture.

Not far away, this juvenile Grey Heron was behind the 4th tee and the juvenile Blackcap was one of several to the left of the 5th Red.

Grey Heron [4th Blue]

Blackcap [5th Red]

7 July 2024

I played a few times this week.  Nothing particularly unusual around the estate at the moment.  The Spotted Flycatchers are still about around the 9th Blue, but not much else.  One thing of note at the moment is the large number of Mallards on the pond on the 4th Blue.  I counted 20, including this white one, trying rather unconvincingly to conceal itself among the reeds.

Mallard [4th Blue]

I see Feral Pigeons flying over from time to time, but have not seen one on the course until now.  This one was very tame and was feeding on seeds on the 8th on the Green.  Judging by the tags, this one looks like a racing pigeon.  These are actually descended from Rock Doves, which inhabited cliffs before moving to towns and cities for a ready supply of food.  You can still find wild Rock Doves in Scotland and Northern Ireland and their descendants in any urban environment.

Feral Pigeon [8th Green]

Whilst many of the flowers are starting to go over, you can still see a few rarities in Two Pine Fen on the 4th Green/16th Red.  Marsh Lousewort has recently been reintroduced in an attempt to restore the habitat here and at Boundary Fen.  One plant that has benefited is Marsh Helleborine, which is arguably the most attractive of the orchids to be found at Frilford.

Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris [16th Red]

Marsh Lousewort Pedicularis palustris [4th Green]

Found this Common Cockchafer wandering across the 14th fairway.  They are more numerous in early summer, hence there other name 'May Bug'.

Common Cockchafer Melolontha melolontha [14th Blue]

9 June 2024

 

Lots of sunshine in the early morning this weekend.  It was nice to see that the Spotted Flycatchers have returned.  There are usually three or four pairs that nest on the estate.  Today I saw a pair behind the 10th tee on the Blue and to the right of the 9th fairway.

Spotted Flycatcher [10th Blue]

There was a Herring Gull on the 11th fairway on the Blue.  I don't see them very often at Frilford, more usual are Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls.  They are large gulls with a light grey back and black wingtips, more usually seen steeling your fish and chips at the seaside.

Herring Gull [11th Blue]

In Two Pine Fen, some of the rarer flowers are starting to appear.   These Meadow Thistles are dotted about but easy to see.   Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchids grow in the middle and stout footwear is required to visit.  I can also see a lot of Marsh Helleborine coming into bud.

Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum [16th Red]

Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides [16th Red]

Another of Frilford's rare flowers, the Maiden Pink, is in flower to the right of the 10th tee green.

Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoides [10th Green]

There is also a nice display of Southern March Orchids to the left of the 3rd fairway on the Green.

Southern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza praetermissa [3rd Green]

2 June 2024

 I had a long walk around the Red and Blue course this morning.  I came across several Cinnabar moths between the 13th and 15th Red.  I often see them here - they are easy to spot with their bright red underwing, particularly as they are day-flying.

Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae [15th Red]

Dragonflies are much more evident on the course now that full summer is approaching.  This female Broad-bodied Chaser was between the 4th and 5th on the Red.  The first time that I have seen one of these at Frilford.  Notice the broad, flat abdomen, hence the name.

Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa [4th Red]

 The distinctive small blue flowers and fleshy leaves of Brooklime can be found in the stream on the 18th Red.  I've not seen this here before - it also grows in the ditches on the Blue course.

Brooklime Veronica beccabunga [18th Red]

A few of the orchid species are flowering now.  I have seen Pyramidal Orchids, various Marsh Orchids and Common Spotted.  This Common Spotted Orchid was growing on the right of the 18th Red.

Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii [18th Red]

27 May 2024

 

 I visited a good proportion of the estate this weekend.  I started at the Doghouse practice ground on Saturday.  I was pleased to see that the Skylarks were still around and look to be nesting.   There were a lot of these Garden Chafer beatles on the grass.  They are generally unpopular with the greenkeepers as the birds dig up the fairways looking for their grubs along with those of their larger cousin the Cock Chafter.

Garden Chafer Phyllopertha horticola [Doghouse practice ground]

This Whitethroat was one of many singing around the estate - in the far corner of the practice area.

Whitethroat [Doghouse practice ground]

Whilst watching the Whitethroat, I briefly saw a Common Lizard in the long grass, the first that I have seen at Frilford, but it was too quick for me to photograph.  Fortunately I came across another today basking on a tree stump to the right of the 15th on the Red.

Common Lizard [15th Red]

In the morning the front nine of the Blue was very quiet, so I waited for one of the Kingfishers by the 2nd Blue.  This pale female Mallard came along and was very tame.

Mallard [2nd Blue]

The Kingfishers made several visits, regularly catching fish in the stream and gave some nice views sitting on one of the yellow posts.

Kingfisher [2nd Blue]

In the afternoon I visited the Tubney range.  This Muntjac was enjoying the long grass.

Muntjac [Tubney range]

I also explored the waste area next to the reservoir and came across three new plants for the Frilford list.  Henbit Dead-nettle is rather inconspicuous and very similar to the Red Dead-nettle but is a little larger and has less nettle-like leaves.

Henbit Dead-nettle Lamium amplexicaule [Reservoir]

Marsh Spurge is a garden escape.  Its large size and bright yellow bracts make it more conspicuous.

Marsh Spurge Euphorbia palustris [Reservoir]

Field Pennywort has distinctive seed-heads that resemble pennies.

Field Penny-cress Thlaspi arvense [Reservoir]

11 May 2024

Had a walk in the sunshine this morning.  Lots of birdsong, with most of the summer migrants now arrived.  Blackcaps can be heard all over the course with plenty of Whitethroats as well in the scrub.  It was nice to see and hear a pair of Garden Warblers in the same place as the last couple of years on the right of the 13th Red.

Chaffinch [3rd Blue]

Garden Warbler [13th Red]

I also came across this Greater Celandine growing near the 1st Red.  It is actually a member of the Poppy family and can be found in a few places around the estate, usually close to gardens.

Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus [1st Red]

5 May 2024

I started off at the Doghouse practice ground this morning and was pleased to see that a pair of Skylarks seem to be nesting in the overground area between the two hitting areas.  I have seem them in a similar spot on a few visits.  You tend to hear Skylarks a lot on, particularly on the first few holes of the Blue course.  In fact they used to nest all around the Blue course, but have gradually moved on due to disturbance from errant golfers.  

Skylark [Doghouse practice range]

Also on the Doghouse practice ground I came across this Green Hairstreak - a butterfly that is found on natural, grassland but which has drastically reduced in the last few years.

Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi [Doghouse practice ground]

I then  decided to make the most of the combination of the sunny weather and the front nine of the Blue course being very quiet to settle down in the nettles beside the 2nd to see what appeared.  After about 15 minutes I was rewarded by some nice views of two different Little Egrets fishing in the stream. Notice how the Egret stirs up the silt at the bottom of the stream with its feet to disturb any fish.

Little Egret [2nd Blue]

Then 15 minutes later one of the Kingfishers appeared.  At one point perching on the post 20 feet away to eat a fish that it had just caught.

Kingfisher [2nd Blue]