10 April 2023

I had a few holes and a few walks around the course over the last week or so.  It was nice to see a few ducks on the reservoir, particularly on Monday when it offered a bit  of shelter from the wind.  There were six Gadwall (5 males and 1 female), which is the most that I have seen around Frilford, as well as around a dozen Tufted Ducks and some Coot.

Gadwall [Reservoir]

Gadwall [Reservoir]

Tufted Ducks [Reservoir]

This Little Grebe was close to the edge in calmer conditions earlier in the week.

Little Grebe [Reservoir]

Elsewhere around the course there are lots of Linnets about.  This flock was roosting in the trees on the Green course.  There are also a few Redpolls and Siskins still around

Linnets [9th Green]

Redpoll [15th Red]

11 December 2021

 

Nothing much of note for the past couple of weeks.  There is still a bit of colour around if you look hard enough, such as this Greater Periwinkle on the Doghouse range.

Greater Periwinkle Vinca major [Doghouse range]

The very pale Buzzard is also still around on the Green course - this is the first time that I have seen it for a couple of months.

Common Buzzard [9th Green]

26 September 2021

 

Plenty of sunshine in the last few days.  At the back of the 5th Blue I spotted the distinctive berries of the Spindle - a small shrub.  The berries turn bright pink when ripe and have an orange seed inside.  They are also very poisonous.

Spindle Euonymus europaeus [5th Blue]

Kestrels and Buzzards are quite active on the course at the moment.  This Kestrel was hunting in the long grass besides the reservoir, periodically dropping down in search of a small rodent.

Kestrel [Reservoir]

Buzzard [2nd Green]

11 June 2021

 

Prime time of year for flowers.  Some of the most spectacular on the course at the moment are the Southern Marsh Orchids between the 8th and 11th on the Blue.  These are around 50cm tall and very visible from the fairway on the 11th - there are actually a couple of clusters.  It is unusual for them to have spotted leaves - possibly due to hybridising with Common Spotted.

Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa [11th Blue]

There is another type of orchid nearby, the Pyramidal Orchid.  Somewhat smaller and just coming into flower.  You will see lots of these if you visit Goring and Streatley Golf Club.

Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis [11th Blue]

On the third Blue there are lots of Common Spotted Orchid, including this unusual pure white one.

Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii [3rd Blue]

Also on the 3rd Blue there is a lot of Tufted Vetch.

Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca [3rd Blue]

Here's a close up of the moth in the background of the previous photo, which I think is a Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena Ionicerae [3rd Blue]

A couple of quite similar flowers growing near the 1st green on the Red.  Weld is a tall plant growing up to 6 feet high if it can avoid the mower. Wild Mignonette is shorter and bushier.

Weld Reseda luteola [1st Red]

Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea [1st Red]

We are also nearing peak clover season.   White Clover is the most common and is the one that conceals your golf ball even when it's only just off the fairway.

White Clover Trifolium repens [15th Blue]

Red Clover is also fairly common in wet areas. This one was in the fen on the 3rd Blue.

Red Clover Trifolium pratense [3rd Blue]

 If you look closely, you may also spot Knotted clover, which grows on the 12th on the Blue.

Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum [12th Blue]

Hare's-foot Clover is also common on the 11th of the Blue and the Doghouse range in particular.

Hare's-foot Clover Trifolium arvense [Doghouse range]

From hare's foot to the animal itself.  This one was on the 2nd Blue.

Brown Hare [2nd Blue]

The Great-crested Grebe is still on the reservoir.  A Lesser Black-backed Gull also stopped by earlier in the week.

Lesser Black-backed Gull [Reservoir]

A Buzzard also flew over this evening.

Buzzard [Reservoir]

9 March 2021

 

Lovely morning.  A few interesting birds about.  Starlings have been surprisingly uncommon on the course this winter, there is a small flock that I sometimes see on the Blue course.  Today they were feeding with the Redwings on the 9th.

Starlings [9th Blue]

A male pheasant was close by.

Pheasant [9th Red]

Much more common are Woodpigeons, this group were feeding on the ivy at the side of the 12th on the Red.

Woodpigeons [12th Red]

A Little Egret and Kingfisher brought a touch of the exotic to the first two holes on the Blue.

Little Egret [2nd Blue]

Kingfisher [1st Blue]

The Crossbills were centred around the 13th on the Red this morning, along with a Chiffchaff and a small flock of Siskins.  I could also see across to a Buzzard sitting in the sunshine on the 14th Green.

Chiffchaff [13th Red]

Buzzard [14th Green]

Redwing [5th Red]

27 February 2021

 

Beautiful morning, had a walk around all 3 courses.  Nothing particularly noteworthy, but all looking good in the sunshine.  Siskins, Crossbills and Goldfinches were all feeding around the 3rd and 4th on the Red.

Siskins [4th Red]

Crossbill [3rd Red]

This Long-tailed Tit was gathering nesting material in the gorse beside the 18th Blue.

Long-tailed Tit [18th Blue]

There are plenty of Great Tits singing around the course at the moment.  This one is a male.  The males have broader black stripes across their front than females.  Great Tits have one of the most impressive repertoires of different calls of any British bird with over 100 different songs being recorded.  This bird only felt the need to employ one of these.

Other birds about include one of the two Magpies that always frequent the trees around the 12th Red, a Coot on the reservoir and a Buzzard flying over the first couple of holes on the Blue.

Magpie [12th Red]

Coot [reservoir]

Buzzard [2nd Blue]

This Muntjac Deer didn't spot me whilst it was grazing in the area between the 15th and 13th on the Red.

A few more familiar flowers are appearing all around the course - a bit of yellow about today.

Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus [15th Red]

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale [12th Red]

Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna [4th Blue]

2 February 2021

 

Had a walk round for an hour in the sunshine at lunchtime today.  Nothing out of the ordinary, but some nice views of Red Kites and a rather untidy Buzzard on the 2nd of the Red.

Red Kite [2nd Red]

Buzzard [2nd Red]