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]