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]

25 April 2021

 

Had a walk around the Blue and Red first thing.  The Gadwalls had temporarily moved from the reservoir to the pond on the 3rd of the Blue - this is the male.

Gadwall [3rd Blue]

There were plenty of Mallards about on the 4th and 5th fairways.  I often see this male, which is a Mallard, but with rather aberrant plumage, although it doesn't look to have stopped him finding a mate:

Mallards [5th Blue]

There were plenty of Blackcaps singing.  This one was behind the 6th tee on the Blue:

Around the reservoir, the Common Sandpiper seems to be a fixture now:

Common Sandpiper [Reservoir]

There were also some House Martins along with the Swallows.  These are the first that I have seen this year - notice the shorter tail and White Rump.

House Martins (Reservoir)

I walked around Boundary Fen, which is the marshy area to the left of the 13th on the Red which has been worked on by Abingdon Green Gym over lockdown.  I couldn't see too many new flowers there, but there was some White Comfrey behind the 14th tee.  

White Comfrey Symphytum orientale [14th Red]

The small wood to the left of the 13th tee is full of Yellow Archangel, a rather attractive flower with variegated leaves, as well as Stinging Nettles - so don't go in wearing shorts.

Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon [13th Red]

Finally I called in at the Doghouse range to scan the short grass for anything unusual.  I managed to spot Subterranean Clover, which is quite rare, particularly away from the sea and one of the specialty of the estate.  It gets its name from the way that it's fruits bury themselves underground, planting themselves.  It is a tiny plant - I put a tee in the picture to give an idea of scale:

Subterranean Clover Trifolium subterraneum [Doghouse Range]

I also photographed a couple of other more common, but equally tiny plants:

Common Whitlow Grass Erophila verna [Doghouse Range]

Early Forget-me-not Myosotis ramosissima [Doghouse Range]

11 April 2021

 Had a good look around for new flowers on the course, but wasn't able to find any today.  Three more new birds to add to the list though - all from around the reservoir.   

Gadwall are quite handsome ducks - about the same size as a Mallard and usually found in pairs or small family groups.  This pair were on the reservoir this morning before being harassed into leaving by a typically pugnacious Coot.

Gadwall [Reservoir]

Gadwall and Coot [Reservoir]

I don't see many waders around the course.  This Common Sandpiper was also on the reservoir first thing.

Common Sandpiper [Reservoir]

Nearby was a Willow Warbler.  They are very difficult to distinguish from a Chiffchaff until they sing.   This one gave a quick phrase to allow confirmation of the identification.