13 May 2021

There are a number of different Crane's bill (Geraniums) species on the courses at the moment.  These are so-named because of their elongated fruit's which supposedly resemble a crane's beak.  The most common by far is Dove's-foot Crane's-bill which is all over all three courses on most holes. 

Dove's foot Crane's-bill Geranium molle [Doghouse range]

A week or so ago I found Dusky Crane's-bill by the 1st tee Blue.  I haven't been able to find it since, so I suspect that a deer may have eaten it.

Dusky Crane's Bill Geranium phoeum [1st Blue]

On the Doghouse range I found Hedgerow Crane's-bill earlier this week:

Hedgerow Crane's-bill Geranium pyrenaicum [Doghouse range]

Another very common Crane's-bill is Herb Robert - a plant I know particularly well as I pull it up in large quantities from my drive and patio every weekend.   This plant is on the path between the driving range and the 16th Blue.

Herb Robert Geranium robertianum [Tubney driving range]

I was convinced that I had found another species of Geranium known as Little Robin or Lesser Herb Robert.  This plant is very similar to Herb Robert, but has much smaller flowers and yellow anthers (part of the middle of the flower) and is also incredibly rare.  I compared it to Herb Robert growing nearby and as you can see in the photo, my flower (top right) is considerably smaller than Herb Robert (bottom left) and appears to have yellow anthers.

In my excitement I sent a ton of photos to Susan and Frances - two experts from the Ashmoleum Natural History Society of Oxford, who looked at these and told me that my flower was likely to just be a small Herb Robert.  Undeterred, I invited them along to look at the plant, which they very kindly agreed to do and they very quickly confirmed.... that it was just a small Herb Robert.  Whilst the anthers appear to be yellow, this is actually the pollen and closer inspection confirmed that, where no pollen is present, they are orange, which confirms an identification of Herb Robert.  They were very good about it and offered consolation that they could see how I reached my erroneous conclusion.  Fortunately the plants are very near the car park so at least I didn't drag them on a long walk in the rain to see a plant that grows on everyone's drive.  It was a useful learning experience, the main lessons being:

1. That there is more to identifying plants than looking at pictures and seeing which looks most similar;

2. That there is considerable variation in plant morphology within the same species; and

3. When you hear hooves, think horse not zebra.

20 April 2021

Had a quick walk this morning around the reservoir and the top of the Red course.  Most notable sighting was around 20 Sand Martins over the reservoir - sadly too fast for me to get a photo.  

Later on I walked along the footpath next to the first few of the Red to photograph the flowers.  Sticky Mouse-ear is very similar to Little Mouse-ear, but very close inspection shows that it has 10 styles rather than 5 for the latter, it also usually has a cluster of flowers.

Sticky Mouse-ear Cerastium glomeratum [5th Red]

There is a lot of Dove's foot Cranesbill all over the course, just now starting to come into flower.

Dove's-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle [3rd Red]

Same with Garlic Mustard - plenty of this on the 16th on the Green as well as around the first few holes of the Red and besides the practice net.

Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata [18th Blue]

This Summer Snowflake is presumably a garden escape and grows by the bridge on the way to the Blue course.

Summer Snowflake Leucojum aestivan [1st Red]

There is quite a lot of Moschatel on the footpath, particularly between the 1st and 2nd on the Red:

Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina [1st Red]

I've kept a look out for Heath Dog Violets which are found on the course.  They have a yellow spur and rather less heart-shaped leaves that the Common Dog Violet.  I think that this rather moth-eaten specimen is one from the footpath by the side of the 5th on the Red.  I think that there are also some by the fen on the 4th on the Green.

Heath Dog Violet Viola canina [5th Red]

Another butterfly, a Speckled Wood, also by the 5th on the Red.

Speckled Wood [5th Red]

18 April 2021

 

Had a walk around the Red and Blue courses this morning.  A few more plants to tick off for the year, although I'm learning that identification of a lot of species is far from straightforward.  Bluebells are one flower that is fairly easy and a few are appearing on the left of the 13th on the Red.

Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta [13th Red]

This small shrub grows in some quantity on the the left of the 13th on the Red and I think that they are some sort of currant.  I will go for Red Currant for the moment and will hopefully get further clues when they fruit.

Red Currant Ribes rubrum [13th Red]

I think that this is a Dove's Foot Cranesbill on the left of the 15th on the Blue:

Doves-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle [15th Blue]

I think that this is a Wood Forget-me-not on the left of the 13th Red.

Wood Forget-me-not  Myosotis sylvatica [13th Red]

I think that this is Slender Speedwell on the 3rd on the Red.

Slender Speedwell Veronica filiformis [3rd Red]

This is definitely Field Mouse-ear - with the 15th on the Red in the background.

Field Mouse-ear Cerastium arvense [15th Red]

Not too much around bird-wise.  A few more Swallows, four Tufted Duck on the pond by the 4th tee on the Blue and lots of Linnets in the gorse on the 5th and 15th Red, where I think that they nest.

Tufted Duck [4th Blue]

Linnet [5th Red]

Song Thrush [6th Blue]