31 August 2026

 

I went out for a walk early this morning and played the Blue Course this evening.  It is good to see that the rain has softened the turf somewhat, although the lush greens and tees still stand out from the browns of the fairways and rough.  Towards the end of summer most of the flowers have gone over, but one of Frilford's specialities, Grass of Parnassus flowers at the end of August and can be found in Two-Pine Fen on the 4th of the Green course.  I could only see a couple of flowers so I suspect that a lot may be over by now.  These are the most southerly plants of this species in the UK, although they are more common in Europe, particulary in the mountains.

Grass-of-Parnassus Parnassia palustris [4th Green]

Also flowering nearby is Devil's Bit Scabious with it's characteristic purple flowerheads on long stems.  This plant is uncommon in Oxfordshire, but is doing well at Frilford and occurs along the stream from Two Pine Fen and into Boundary Fen on the 13th Red.

Devil's bit Scabious Succisa pratensis [4th Green]

Other late flowerers include Duke of Argyll's Teaplant [13th Red] and Common Heather, which grows best on the 15th Red. 

Duke of Argyll's Teaplant Lycium barbarum [13th Red]

Heather Calluna vulgaris [15th Red]

Playing this evening I came across three of the resident Red-legged Partidges on the 17th Blue.

Red-legged Partridges [17th Blue]

At the end of the round I found another Hummingbird Hawk Moth on the flowers near the clubhouse.  It has been a good summer for these insects in the UK where they have been appearing in good numbers.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth Macroglossum stellatarum [2nd Green]

24 August 2026

I haven't done much of my nature blog from inside the clubhouse, but this evening I came across a Hummingbird Hawk Moth buzzing around the ceiling near the door.  There are lots of them about on the course at the moment.  This one was having a breather near the light.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum [Clubhouse]

One of the pleasures over the summer has been watching the Brown Hares which seem to be thriving around the estate.  Once in a while one wanders up and doesn't spot me.  This one was very confiding earlier in July.

Brown Hare [3rd Blue]

Stoats are always much trickier to see and photograph.  I seem them quite regularly, particularly on the Red course, but usually only briefly.  This one was hunting along the edge of the rough on the 9th.

Stoat [9th Red]

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]