14 June 2023

 

I had a walk in the glorious sunshine first thing this morning.  There were lots of birds on the fairways - mostly Jackdaws and Rooks, but also this Oystercatcher with them on the 8th.   

Oystercatcher [8th Blue]

You will probably be more used to seeing Oystercatchers at the seaside where they feed on the rocks, but they are also found inland where they feed in open area such as playing fields and golf courses.  Locally they turn up fairly regularly at Farmoor and Radley Lakes.

Nearby, in the rough between the 10th and the 8th I came across these orchids.  They look like Common Spotted, but are much larger than all of the others on the course.  I suspect that they are hybridised with Southern Marsh.  I found some similarly impressive specimens a couple of years ago about 30 yards away.

Common Spotted Orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii [10th Blue]

Elsewhere I came across this young Brown Hare sitting motionless to avoid detection and lots of Jackdaws on the 16th tee Blue

Brown Hare [7th Blue]

Jackdaw [16th Blue]

15 November 2020

Sunny day, so had a long walk around all 3 courses.  I started on the green course where I had some nice views of an unusually pale buzzard:

Buzzard [9th Green]

Buzzard [9th Green]

Elsewhere, there were a few birds about, but mostly flying over in the blustery conditions.  Including a Cormorant flying over the 15th on the Red and 3 Ravens at various points on the Red and the usual large flocks of Rooks and Jackdaws on the Blue and Red.

Raven [8th Red]

Jackdaw [3rd Red]

It the trees to the left of the 4th and 5th fairways on the Blue course I counted 45 Red Kites.  An impressive number given that in 1990 this figure was about the same as the UK population.

Red Kite [4th Blue]

There were a few birds on the reservoir.  A group of Tufted Ducks, a couple of Mallard, a flock of Black-headed Gulls and two Little Grebes.

Little Grebe [reservoir]

Good numbers of Redwings, Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes and the odd Song Thrush feeding on berries at various parts of the course, in particular on the Red course on the 14th, 15th. 

Song Thrush [16th Red]

Pied Wagtail [14th Red]

I have added set up a couple of feeders behind the 13th/14th on the Red, so keep an eye open for small birds on these.

There are also quite a few fungi about.  Small clusters of Shaggy Inkcaps are visible about the course including by the practice net.  I found another on the 6th on the Red.  

Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus [6th Red]

Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus [6th Red]

Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria [6th Red]

Horse Mushroom Agaricus arvensis [14th Red]