I had a brief walk around the Blue and Red courses this morning. I think that there is one pair of Egyptian Geese left after the territorial dispute and they have raised three chicks. They are usually found around the pond on the 3rd.
Egyptian Geese [3rd Blue]
There are plenty of other young birds around the course at the moment, including this Dunnock on the 5th Red.
Dunnock [5th Red]
Field Pansies are quite common, but are still one of my favourite Frilford flowers. They grow on the Blue course, including in the car park at the Tubney range, but are quite small and inconspicuous.
Field Pansy Viola arvensis [15th Blue]
I am often amazed and amused at where I find golf balls in my visits to the more remote areas of the three courses. This ball was embedded in the branch of the tree to the left of the 5th hole on the Blue.
I had an early morning walk around the Blue course. There was quite a lot of commotion on the first green with two pairs of Egyptian Geese arguing loudly, probably over territory. Eventually one of the pairs retreated. The dead tree by the side of the first green seems like a prime next site.
Egyptian Geese [1st Blue]
In amongst the Mallards on the 4th tee was a male Gadwall. There is a pair that nests on the reservoir which I see fairly regularly - but not so often out on the course. The white wing bar of the male is quite distinctive.
Anyone playing the Blue course recently will have noticed a couple of new additions to the regular wildlife at Frilford. Two Egyptian Geese have taken up residence and can be seen on the front nine most days. Egyptian Geese are an introduced species, first arriving in St. James’ Park in 1698 from it’s natural range of Egypt and North Africa.
Egyptian Geese [1st Blue]
Next to the reservoir I can across some holes in the sand. These are made by Mining Bees - a genus which contains 67 species.
They are common around the course - I have been stung by one on the Green course when searching for my ball in a bunker. Sadly my expertise does not extend to classifying these in any more detail.
Beautiful sunny still morning today. I had a walk around parts of the Blue and Red course. An Egyptian Goose stopped off at the reservoir, a new addition to the Frilford list.
Egyptian Goose [Reservoir]
As its name suggests, the Egyptian Goose is an introduced species, first recorded in England in 1678, but is now fairly common, particularly in urban parks.
Trickier to spot, but easier to hear, there are still plenty of warblers singing and feeding. This Blackcap is usually singing near the bridge near the 1st Blue, although is tricky to spot.
Blackcap [1st Blue]
Also easier to hear that see are the various Whitethroats nesting around the estate. This one was skulking in the gorse to the left of the 5th Red.
Whitethroat [5th Red]
Willow Warblers seem to be the opposite. I have scarcely heard one this year, but always seem to find a lot feeding. This one is fairly regular in the gorse between the 4th and 5th Red.
Willow Warbler [4th Red]
Various insects around. I think that this is a Hairy Dragonfly near the 13th tee Blue, well camouflaged amidst the undergrowth. The Emperor dragonfly was rather more conspicuous with early-morning due on its large wings. The Common Blue Damselfly was near the 3rd on the Red, but they are fairly common on the Blue and Red course
Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense [13th Blue]
Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator [1st Blue]
Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [3rd Red]
This Large Skipper looks more like a moth, but is actually a butterfly. This is a male - sitting on a leaf waiting for a female on the 4th Red.
Large Skipper Ochlodes sylvanus [4th Red]
The Southern Marsh Orchids are in full bloom just short of the pond on the 9th Red. There are also some Common Spotted here as well and Early Marsh Orchids as well if you have time to search.
