27 February 2022

 

Another glorious morning and I managed to spot a new species of bird for the Frilford list.  There were 100+ Chaffinches feeding in the woods around the 1st and 2nd holes on the Blue and in amongst the flock were a few Bramblings.  The birds were very flighty, so it was difficult to get a photo, but the upper of the two birds in this picture is a Brambling, feeding around the abandoned golf balls.

Brambling [2nd Blue]

A pair of Nuthatches look to be nesting in a hole on one of the old willow trees at the side of the first on the Blue.  If you pull your tee shot you are likely to hear their calls.

Nuthatches [1st Blue]

Redwings are very common around the course at the moment, with the largest concentrations around the first and second on the Blue.

Redwing [1st Red]

Dunnocks are also very evident and one of the most characteristic songs around the course at the moment.

Dunnock [1st Red]

I came across this fungus on fallen twig on the 5th Blue.  It has the apt name of Yellow Brain and is also the more sinister name of 'Witch's Butter'.  As the fungus ages and dries out, like this one it turns bright orange.  

Yellow Brain Tremella mesenterica [5th Blue]

26 February 2022

 

Have popped up a few times this week to play nine holes and to walk around the front nine of the Blue while it is out of action.  The noisiest arrivals are the Canada Geese, with pairs on both the 3rd and the 4th. They arrived at the same place the same time last year.

Canada Geese [3rd Blue]

A Grey Heron also frequented the pond on the Blue and a Cormorant also took off as I arrived.  I got a very brief view of the Water Rail in the ditch to the left of the Blue as well.

Grey Heron [3rd Blue]

One animal that I hoped lived around the 3rd Blue is the Water Vole.  I saw one for the first time earlier in the week.  It shot into the burrow below before I could get a photo, but the habitat around this area of the course is ideal for these mammals which like slow-flowing streams with banks in which to burrow.  They have declined significantly in this country in the last 30 years so it is good to see them here.

Not far away, this Muntjac Deer was just left of the 4th tee and the Mistle Thrush, one of many around the course, was on the 4th tee.

 

Muntjac [4th Blue]

Mistle Thrush [4th Blue]

I have seen the Kingfisher on the 1st and 2nd this week and lots of Siskins and Redpolls on the 1st and 2nd.

Kingfisher [1st Blue]

Siskin [9th Blue]

19 February 2022

 

Lots of fallen trees and debris for the Greenkeeping staff to clear up after storm Eunice.  Quite a few birds around first thing, including a new tick for me on the courses as a Water Rail scurried across the path as I walked along the 3rd on the Blue this morning.  They are very secretive water birds that live in thick vegetation around water - more often heard than seen.  I managed to get a couple of blurry  shots before it disappeared back into the undergrowth.

Water Rail [3rd Blue]

A few birds seemed to be returning to the courses ready to nest.  I saw a couple of Reed Buntings to the left of the 3rd Blue and a pair of Stock Doves in the wood between the 16th and 17th on the Blue.

Stock Dove [17th Blue]

On the 5th Blue the flock of Redpolls and Siskins was very active with 40-50 birds feeding.

Redpolls [5th Blue]

Siskin [5th Blue]

17 February 2022

 

I had a quick walk around the Blue course this morning and nine holes this evening in the sunny weather between storms Dudley and Eunice. The patch of Snowdrops by the 18th tee on the Green course is mostly in flower now.

There are a few Mallard that move between the ponds on the Blue course, including this oddly-coloured individual, still around from last year.  The reservoir is filling up but I haven't seen any birds on the water yet.

Mallards [4th Blue]

The largest flock of Siskins and Redpolls was in the treetops to the left of the 5th fairway on the Blue with 20-30 birds moving between the high branches, feeding on the Alder seeds.

Siskin [5th Blue]

A bit further along on the 6th a pair of Kingfishers was moving between the pond and the stream, where they look to be nesting.  I'm not sure whether this is a different pair to the one that I see regularly around the 1st-4th on the Blue.

Kingfishers [6th Blue]

6 February 2022

The first flowers of 2022 are appearing on the course.  The patch of Snowdrops by the 18th tee on the green in bloom as are these Stinking Hellebores on to the left of the 14th on the Red.

Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis [18th Green]

Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus [14th Red]

Collard Doves are one of the birds, like House Sparrows, that are common elsewhere, but not on the Frilford estate.  This one was in a tree to the left of the Blue range.

Collard Dove [Tubney range]

Lots of birds singing yesterday, Robins and Dunnocks in particular.  Not so many today with the wind, but plenty of Red Kites maneuvering skillfully.

Dunnock [Tubney Range]

 

Red Kite [3rd Green]

30 January 2022

 

Good to see the reservoir filling up this weekend, hopefully it won't be too long before the geese and ducks return.  Haven't seen anything unusual on the course, but it was nice to have a bit of sunshine to photograph the birds.

Kestrel [4th and 5th Red]

Long-tailed Tit [5th Red]

Goldcrest [13th Blue]

Redwings [driveway]