30 August 2023

I walked a loop from the 1st Blue around to the 16th Red this morning.  There are a few characteristic plants that provide a last gasp of summer in late August.  The Heather provides some autumnal colour, particularly around the 15th hole on the Red.

Common Heather Calluna vulgaris [15th Red]

In Two-Pine Fen, Grass of Parnassus is a rare flower in southern England and grows just in front of the stream on the 4th Green.  Devil's Bit Scabious has characteristic globular flowers and grows in quite large quantities.

Grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris [4th Green]

Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis [4th Green]

I stopped for a while behind the 10th green on the Blue course where a large wave of Blue Tits (40-50 birds) passed through, with a Nuthatch and a couple of Spotted Flycatchers mixed in.

Nuthatch [10th Blue]

Spotted Flycatcher [10th Blue]

27 August 2023

I played the front nine of the Blue Course at around 5pm this evening and didn't see another sole.  In one of the trees on the right of the 4th there was a very active Hornets' nest.  I managed to record these impressively large insects and, although this may seem a rather hazardous pursuit, Hornets are generally not aggressive.  

European Hornet Vespa crabro [4th Blue]

On the 5th hole this Brown Hare stopped to watch my golf for a few minutes.  It didn't see anything good.

Brown Hare [5th Blue]

I also saw one of the Kingfishers moving between the 3rd, 2nd and 1st holes.

Kingfisher [1st Blue]

9 August 2023

 Had a quick walk around the Blue and Red courses in the sunshine early this morning.   Beside the 10th tee on the Red I came across half a dozen or so Soapwort plants.  I usually see Soapwort on the 14th/15th of the Red, this is the first time that I have come across them on the 10th.  Their leaves/roots, when boiled, lather up and produce a mild detergent - hence the name.   

Soapwort Saponaria officinalis [10th Red]

There are a lot of young birds around the course at the moment - particularly Willow Warblers and Blackcaps.  This young Blackcap was in the Wood between the 16th and 17th Blue.

Blackcap [16th Blue]

The Grey Heron was next to the pond on the 1st Blue this morning and this rather tame young Roe Deer was in the woods behind the 6th Blue.

Grey Heron [1st Blue]

Roe Deer [6th Blue]

7 August 2023

 

I walked around the front nine of the Blue early this morning.  As you can see from the photo, the fairways were pretty wet after the rain of the last few days.  There wasn't too much about, although I did come across a new plant for my Frilford list.  Lesser Swine-cress grows around the 3rd, although it is not a plant of great beauty.

 Lesser Swine-cress Coronopus didymus [3rd Blue]

Rather prettier is the Field Pansy which is common all over the Blue course.  This one was also on the 3rd

Field Pansy Viola arvensis [3rd Blue]

I also called in briefly at the Doghouse practice ground, which is covered in Knotted Clover at this time of year.  

Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum [Doghouse Practice Ground]

Wild Carrot grows in the car park.  This is one of the easier Umbellifers to identify as once the flowers go over, the umbel curls up into a ball.

Wild Carrot Daucus carota [Doghouse practice ground]

3 August 2023

I had a walk around the Red course this morning and came across a plant that I hadn't spotted before.  Upright Hedge Parsley is actually very common and can be identified by its characteristic fruits which are green with red hairs - albeit you need a magnifier to see these.  This patch was beside the 14th tee, but it is probably common all around the estate.

Upright Hedge-Parsley Torilis japonica [14th Red]

Another Umbellifer nearby, Wild Parsnip, is easier to identify as it has yellow flowers.

Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa [14th Red]

It was nice to see the beehives between the 13th and 15th fully occupied.  The Whitethroats are also still visible with some patience, skulking in the undergrowth and occasionally popping out to look around.

Whitethroat [13th Red]

Wild Thyme is very evident on the 15th/16th/17th and is very popular with butterflies and other insects.

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina on Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus [17th Red]

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas and Brown Argus Aricia agestis Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus

[17th Red]

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Brown Argus Aricia agestis Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus
[17th Red]

One of the most numerous butterflies at this time of year is the Gatekeeper which can be found all over the estate at the moment.  This one was to the right of the 13th Red.

Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus [13th Red]