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]

29 May 2023

I went up to the driving range at Tubney and the Doghouse range to look at butterflies this afternoon.  There were plenty about - I came across Brown Argus, Common Blue, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Small White and Brimstone.  A few settled and allowed me to photograph.

Brown Argus Aricia agestis [Doghouse practice ground]

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas [Doghouse practice ground]

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria [13th Blue]

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus [Tubney driving range]

Greater and Lesser Stitchwort are both in flower on the Red course at the moment and are quite similar to Field Mouse Ear which is also in flower on the Red and Blue courses.

Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea [4th Red]

Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea [6th Red]

Field Mouse-ear Cerastium arvense [Doghouse practice ground]

6 August 2022

 

I had a walk around the courses first thing this morning.  Wherever the grass hadn't been watered it was a rather crispy brown.  Nothing too unusual bird-wise, other than a Hobby which I saw very briefly behind the sixth green on the Blue course.  The family of Spotted Flycatchers were in their usual spot on the left of the 4th Blue.  Another family of 5 or 6 birds was on the 13th Red.

Spotted Flycatcher [4th Blue]

Spotted Flycatcher (juvenile) [13th Red]

Lots of other common birds about, particularly Long-tailed Tits, which seem to appear in waves of 20 or 30 birds, often interspersed with Treecreepers, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests and Blue Tits.

Long-tailed Tit [4th Blue]

There also a few species of dragonflies and butterflies about.  This Black-tailed Skimmer was on the 3rd Blue.

Black-tailed Skimmer  Orthetrum cancellatum [3rd Blue]

Brown Argus is a fairly common butterfly found on calcareous grassland, so it was no surprise to find several on the Doghouse practice area.  

Brown Argus Aricia agestis [Doghouse practice ground]

On the 5th Blue I came across this Common Wave moth feeding on a Creeping Thistle.

Common Wave Cabera exanthemata [5th Blue]

There are also plenty of late-flowering plants around the courses - providing splashes of colour among the brown grass.

Common Restharrow Ononis repens [Doghouse practice ground]

Soapwort Saponaria officinalis [14th Red]

Harebell Campanula rotundifolia [15th Red]