24 June 2023

 

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.

Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis [6th Red]

Chalk Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea [16th Red]

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.

Common Cudweed Filago vulgaris [Tubney range]

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

In amongst the grass there were a lot of Silver-Y Moths - so called because of the inverted Y visible on its wings.

Silver Y moth Autographa gamma [Tubney range]

I was pleased to see a Common Sandpiper on the reservoir.  This is the first that I have seen here since the work on the reservoir last year.

Common Sandpiper [Reservoir]

26 June 2022

 

It's a good time for nature at Frilford at the moment.  A high proportion of the flowering plants are in full bloom and the birds and animals are out in family groups.  Vipers Bugloss is plentiful around all three of the courses and a vibrant blue and red colour.  This one was growing near the 12th green on the Red.

Viper's Bugloss Echium vulgare [12th Red]

Fragrant Orchids and Marsh Helleborines are both coming into flower now in Two Pine Fen.

Chalk Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea [16th Red]

Marsh Helleborine Epipactis palustris [16th Red]

The family of Spotted Flycatchers is still quite visible on and around the 4th on the Blue.

Spotted Flycatcher [4th Blue]

I haven't heard many Willow Warblers this year, but there are quite a few young about, including this one that was part of family group of 5 or 6 next to the 15th on the Red.

Willow Warbler [15th Red]

Marbled Whites are the most obvious butterfly at the moment.  This one was next to the footpath on the 5th Red.

Marbled White Melanargia galathea [5th Red]

Sulphur Cinquefoil is a garden escape and a new species for the Frilford list - This one was growing by the 10th tee on the Blue.  

Sulphur Cinquefoil Potentilla recta [10th Blue]

1 July 2021

I managed to find the ninth and probably the final species of Frilford orchid this morning, the Fragrant Orchid.  These have tall thin spikes of small pink flowers and are in Two-pine Fen nearest the 16th fairway, 

Chalk Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea [16th Red]

On the 14th Red I came across Wild Onion just on the left of the fairway.  This is as close as it comes to having flowers.

Wild Onion Allium vineale [14th Red]

Other new flowers include:

Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis [16th Red]

Musk Mallow Malva moschata [7th Blue]

Imperforate St John's-wort Hypericum maculatum [4th Green]

A few birds around the ponds on the Blue.  The resident Grey Heron was moving between the 1st and 3rd this morning and a Kingfisher was doing likewise this evening.

Grey Heron [1st Blue]

Kingfisher [3rd Blue]

I recorded this Whitethroat repeating the distinctive short phrases of its song besides the pond on the 3rd.  There are still quite a number singing around the three courses.