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]

27 May 2024

 

 I visited a good proportion of the estate this weekend.  I started at the Doghouse practice ground on Saturday.  I was pleased to see that the Skylarks were still around and look to be nesting.   There were a lot of these Garden Chafer beatles on the grass.  They are generally unpopular with the greenkeepers as the birds dig up the fairways looking for their grubs along with those of their larger cousin the Cock Chafter.

Garden Chafer Phyllopertha horticola [Doghouse practice ground]

This Whitethroat was one of many singing around the estate - in the far corner of the practice area.

Whitethroat [Doghouse practice ground]

Whilst watching the Whitethroat, I briefly saw a Common Lizard in the long grass, the first that I have seen at Frilford, but it was too quick for me to photograph.  Fortunately I came across another today basking on a tree stump to the right of the 15th on the Red.

Common Lizard [15th Red]

In the morning the front nine of the Blue was very quiet, so I waited for one of the Kingfishers by the 2nd Blue.  This pale female Mallard came along and was very tame.

Mallard [2nd Blue]

The Kingfishers made several visits, regularly catching fish in the stream and gave some nice views sitting on one of the yellow posts.

Kingfisher [2nd Blue]

In the afternoon I visited the Tubney range.  This Muntjac was enjoying the long grass.

Muntjac [Tubney range]

I also explored the waste area next to the reservoir and came across three new plants for the Frilford list.  Henbit Dead-nettle is rather inconspicuous and very similar to the Red Dead-nettle but is a little larger and has less nettle-like leaves.

Henbit Dead-nettle Lamium amplexicaule [Reservoir]

Marsh Spurge is a garden escape.  Its large size and bright yellow bracts make it more conspicuous.

Marsh Spurge Euphorbia palustris [Reservoir]

Field Pennywort has distinctive seed-heads that resemble pennies.

Field Penny-cress Thlaspi arvense [Reservoir]

5 May 2024

I started off at the Doghouse practice ground this morning and was pleased to see that a pair of Skylarks seem to be nesting in the overground area between the two hitting areas.  I have seem them in a similar spot on a few visits.  You tend to hear Skylarks a lot on, particularly on the first few holes of the Blue course.  In fact they used to nest all around the Blue course, but have gradually moved on due to disturbance from errant golfers.  

Skylark [Doghouse practice range]

Also on the Doghouse practice ground I came across this Green Hairstreak - a butterfly that is found on natural, grassland but which has drastically reduced in the last few years.

Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi [Doghouse practice ground]

I then  decided to make the most of the combination of the sunny weather and the front nine of the Blue course being very quiet to settle down in the nettles beside the 2nd to see what appeared.  After about 15 minutes I was rewarded by some nice views of two different Little Egrets fishing in the stream. Notice how the Egret stirs up the silt at the bottom of the stream with its feet to disturb any fish.

Little Egret [2nd Blue]

Then 15 minutes later one of the Kingfishers appeared.  At one point perching on the post 20 feet away to eat a fish that it had just caught.

Kingfisher [2nd Blue]

27 August 2023

I played the front nine of the Blue Course at around 5pm this evening and didn't see another sole.  In one of the trees on the right of the 4th there was a very active Hornets' nest.  I managed to record these impressively large insects and, although this may seem a rather hazardous pursuit, Hornets are generally not aggressive.  

European Hornet Vespa crabro [4th Blue]

On the 5th hole this Brown Hare stopped to watch my golf for a few minutes.  It didn't see anything good.

Brown Hare [5th Blue]

I also saw one of the Kingfishers moving between the 3rd, 2nd and 1st holes.

Kingfisher [1st Blue]

19 March 2023

 

I had a walk around the Blue course this morning in the early morning sunshine.  A Little Egret was in front of the 2nd green.  I have seen one here from time to time over the last couple of years.  In summer plumage you can see the long plumes that were prized by milliners in the past.  The second photo shows the yellow feet which are distinctive.

Little Egret [2nd Blue]

The spring flowers are starting to appear now.  There are a lot of daffodils around the course and primroses by the stream on the 18th Red.

Primrose Primula vulgaris [18th Red]

Elsewhere there were several Roe Deer about, including this one in the woods behind the 6th Blue.

Roe Deer [6th Blue]

One bird species that seems a lot more numerous this year is Greenfinch - there is often a large flock in the trees behind the practice net and around the 1st tee on the Red.  There also lots of Coal Tits and Goldcrests around, particularly around the conifers.  Both of these were near the 6th Blue.

Coal Tit [6th Blue]

Goldcrest [6th Blue]

One of the Kingfishers was perched on the pipe above the ditch just beyond the 4th tee.

Kingfisher [4th Blue]

26 February 2023

 I haven't been out too much of late, but had a walk around the courses first thing this morning.  There was nothing too unusual, but it is nice to see an increase in Greenfinches, particularly around the first tee on the Red course.  As I stopped off to do some practice at the Doghouse practice ground this Magpie sat on the fence while I photographed from the car.

Magpie [Doghouse practice ground]

On the Blue course there were quite a few Woodpeckers around, both Green and Greater-spotted.  A pair of Kingfishers was near the bridge by the 2nd green.

Kingfisher [2nd Blue]

A Blue Tit was feeding on the Bullrushes next to the 3rd green.

Blue Tit [3rd Blue]

There is a lot of work going on to clear the ditch on the Blue course.  Hopefully this will make it a bit more difficult for badgers to cross...

On the Red course I noticed these artificial bee-hives which have appeared between the 13th and 15th.  

There are also plenty of Snowdrop patches around the course.  These were on the 5th Red.

Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis [5th Red]

18 January 2023

 

The upside of the Blue course front nine being unplayable at the moment is that I can have a walk around this bit of the course at lunchtime in relative safety.  I popped up in the sunshine today.  There were a number of Fieldfares in the trees along the 4th hole and Mistle Thrushes on the 9th.  On the 3rd I watched a Kingfisher along the stream.

Kingfisher [3rd Blue]

There was also a Goldcrest on the 3rd.  They are usually quite wary and difficult to photograph, but this one seemed quite happy feeding on the Ivy.

Goldcrest [3rd Blue]

24 April 2022

 

Another sunny spring day.  A few familiar summer migrants are starting to reappear.  I have seen Swallows around the reservoir and the ponds on the Blue and House Martins over the clubhouse.  Whitethroats are singing around the course - I have heard them on the 4th Blue and two or three at the Doghouse Range.

Swallow (Reservoir)

Whitethroat (Doghouse range)

There are also plenty of colourful resident birds about too. I saw this Green Woodpecker and Robin on the Doghouse range and a Kingfisher which was perched just beyond the 4th tee on the Blue.

Green Woodpecker (Doghouse range)

Robin (Doghouse range)

Kingfisher (4th Blue)

Equally colourful are these Marsh Marigolds which offer consolation to those going in the hazard on the 9th Blue and the first Orchid of the year in Two-Pine Fen.

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris [9th Blue]

Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula [4th Green]

Stoats are quite evident at the moment I have seen them sprinting across the fairways 2 or 3 times in the last couple of weeks.