I had a quick walk around the Green course this morning and played nine holes on the Red this evening. I was pleased to see that Marsh Helleborine have colonised the damp area in from of the stream on the 4th Green. I have not seen them here before and a good outcome for the conservation work carried out in this area.
Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris [4th Green]
The Chalk Fragrant Orchids nearby are nearly in flower and a few Pyrimidal Orchids are also appearing around the course.
The Tubney range contains a lot of flowers and insects at the moment. Hares-foot Clover grows in prolific quantities. The rather alien-looking Common Cudweed is also common here.
I have had a few visits to the course over the last week or so. One of the most spectacular sights at the moment is the Viper's Bugloss which has colonised the area between the 13th and 15th on the Red, which was cleared last year. Other than Bluebells carpeting a spring wood I can't think of many comparable displays of floral blue.
Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae [15th Red]
Not far away on the 15th Red was this Cinnabar moth. It is a day-flying moth that can often be found in this area.
Common Broomrape Orobanche minor [18th Blue]
At the back of the 18th on the Blue was this rather odd-looking brown plant - a Common Broomrape which is parasitic on members of the pea family.
Whitethroat [7th Blue]
After the excitement of the Oystercatcher and Egyptian Goose over the last couple of weeks, it was back to more familiar birds. Whitethroats are very common on the course but can be difficult to spot. Sometimes their calls give them away - this one is giving an alarm call.
House Sparrow [Reservoir]
This House Sparrow was one of two or three that breed around the reservoir.
I had a walk in the glorious sunshine first thing this morning. There were lots of birds on the fairways - mostly Jackdaws and Rooks, but also this Oystercatcher with them on the 8th.
Oystercatcher [8th Blue]
You will probably be more used to seeing Oystercatchers at the seaside where they feed on the rocks, but they are also found inland where they feed in open area such as playing fields and golf courses. Locally they turn up fairly regularly at Farmoor and Radley Lakes.
Nearby, in the rough between the 10th and the 8th I came across these orchids. They look like Common Spotted, but are much larger than all of the others on the course. I suspect that they are hybridised with Southern Marsh. I found some similarly impressive specimens a couple of years ago about 30 yards away.
Common Spotted Orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii [10th Blue]
Elsewhere I came across this young Brown Hare sitting motionless to avoid detection and lots of Jackdaws on the 16th tee Blue
Beautiful sunny still morning today. I had a walk around parts of the Blue and Red course. An Egyptian Goose stopped off at the reservoir, a new addition to the Frilford list.
Egyptian Goose [Reservoir]
As its name suggests, the Egyptian Goose is an introduced species, first recorded in England in 1678, but is now fairly common, particularly in urban parks.
Trickier to spot, but easier to hear, there are still plenty of warblers singing and feeding. This Blackcap is usually singing near the bridge near the 1st Blue, although is tricky to spot.
Blackcap [1st Blue]
Also easier to hear that see are the various Whitethroats nesting around the estate. This one was skulking in the gorse to the left of the 5th Red.
Whitethroat [5th Red]
Willow Warblers seem to be the opposite. I have scarcely heard one this year, but always seem to find a lot feeding. This one is fairly regular in the gorse between the 4th and 5th Red.
Willow Warbler [4th Red]
Various insects around. I think that this is a Hairy Dragonfly near the 13th tee Blue, well camouflaged amidst the undergrowth. The Emperor dragonfly was rather more conspicuous with early-morning due on its large wings. The Common Blue Damselfly was near the 3rd on the Red, but they are fairly common on the Blue and Red course
Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense [13th Blue]
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [1st Blue]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [3rd Red]
This Large Skipper looks more like a moth, but is actually a butterfly. This is a male - sitting on a leaf waiting for a female on the 4th Red.
Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus [4th Red]
The Southern Marsh Orchids are in full bloom just short of the pond on the 9th Red. There are also some Common Spotted here as well and Early Marsh Orchids as well if you have time to search.
