15 August 2026

Had a walk around this morning and 9 holes this evening.  There are a few plants around, particularly the mint family at this time of year.  This Gypsywort was next to the pond on the 1st Blue.

Gypsywort Lycopus europaeus [1st Blue]

I was quite encouraged to see a few familiar birds, particularly as I haven't seen much over the summer.  There was a family of Spotted Flycatchers on the 4th Blue so it was nice to see that they have bred successfully again.  I haven't seen a Kingfisher on the estate all summer, so it was good to see this one through the reeds on the pond on the 6th Blue.

Kingfisher [6th Blue]

Later on I came across around 20 Yellow Wagtails on the Tubney driving range.  They were mixed in with a flock of Pied Wagtails.  They can often be found on golf courses and other areas of grassland at this time of year as they prepare to fly south for the winter.  There were a couple on the 3rd green (Red) and a small flock near the reservoir.

Yellow Wagtail [3rd Red]

Yellow Wagtail [Reservoir]

When playing this evening, my playing partner pointed out an insect on the flowers next to the first tee which turned out to be a Hummingbird Hawk moth.  He probably regretted doing so as I then spent the next 15 minutes trying to get a decent photograph.  These are remarkable insects that migrate to the UK from southern Europe and North Africa.  They hover like hummingbirds around flowers and poke their proboscis to such up nectar - much like a hummingbird does with it's beak.  

Hummingbird Hawk Moth Macroglossum stellatarum [1st Red]

31 July 2021

 

Mostly cloudy and wet today, but still a few more flowers to discover.  Common Fleabane grows in many of the damp areas around the course, particularly in the fen in front of the 3rd Blue.  This patch was on the 6th Blue.

Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica [6th Blue]

Very different, other than the name, Canadian Fleabane is common in the rough and on waste ground, but is rather inconspicuous - this plant growing in the Tubney range car park.

Canadian Fleabane Conyza canadensis [Tubney range]

This rather fearsome looking Wasp Spider was in the bushes behind the pond on the 3rd Blue.

Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi [3rd Blue]

In the background you can see Gypsywort - shown in better focus below:

Gypsywort Lycopus europaeus [3rd Blue]

Smooth Tare grows in among the rough on the left of the 11th Blue where it forms small bushes.

Smooth Tare Vicia parviflora [11th Blue]

Not much else around today, other than this juvenile Moorhen on the 9th Red.

Moorhen [9th Red]