7 August 2023

 

I walked around the front nine of the Blue early this morning.  As you can see from the photo, the fairways were pretty wet after the rain of the last few days.  There wasn't too much about, although I did come across a new plant for my Frilford list.  Lesser Swine-cress grows around the 3rd, although it is not a plant of great beauty.

 Lesser Swine-cress Coronopus didymus [3rd Blue]

Rather prettier is the Field Pansy which is common all over the Blue course.  This one was also on the 3rd

Field Pansy Viola arvensis [3rd Blue]

I also called in briefly at the Doghouse practice ground, which is covered in Knotted Clover at this time of year.  

Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum [Doghouse Practice Ground]

Wild Carrot grows in the car park.  This is one of the easier Umbellifers to identify as once the flowers go over, the umbel curls up into a ball.

Wild Carrot Daucus carota [Doghouse practice ground]

28 May 2022

I spent a bit of time this morning trying to spot some of the rare plants at the Doghouse range.  One of the rarest is Annual Knawel which is endangered in the UK and has declined due to herbicide use.  It is a tiny plant with green flowers and so very inconspicuous, but it grows in quite large quantity near to the car park. 

Annual Knawel Scleranthus annuus [Doghouse practice ground]

Close by is knotted clover, slightly larger and easier to spot, but certainly not obvious.

Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum [Doghouse practice ground]

Smooth Catsear is another rare species and the tiny yellow flowers cover the practice ground around midday.  There is also Sheep's Sorrell (on the right) and Bird's Foot (bottom left) in the photo.

Smooth Catsear Hypochaeris glabra [[Doghouse practice ground]

Stag's horn Plantain usually grows by the sea, but there is quite a lot of this near the car park.

Stags horn Plantain Plantago coronopus [Doghouse practice ground]

On the Red course the Garden Warbler was still singing incessantly from the Birch tree to the right of the 13th.

Garden Warbler (13th Red)

Most of the small birds are working hard to feed their broods at the moment and evade the likes of this Jay which looks to steal the eggs and chicks. 

Jay [Yellow course]

Wren [13th Red]

11 June 2021

 

Prime time of year for flowers.  Some of the most spectacular on the course at the moment are the Southern Marsh Orchids between the 8th and 11th on the Blue.  These are around 50cm tall and very visible from the fairway on the 11th - there are actually a couple of clusters.  It is unusual for them to have spotted leaves - possibly due to hybridising with Common Spotted.

Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa [11th Blue]

There is another type of orchid nearby, the Pyramidal Orchid.  Somewhat smaller and just coming into flower.  You will see lots of these if you visit Goring and Streatley Golf Club.

Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis [11th Blue]

On the third Blue there are lots of Common Spotted Orchid, including this unusual pure white one.

Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii [3rd Blue]

Also on the 3rd Blue there is a lot of Tufted Vetch.

Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca [3rd Blue]

Here's a close up of the moth in the background of the previous photo, which I think is a Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena Ionicerae [3rd Blue]

A couple of quite similar flowers growing near the 1st green on the Red.  Weld is a tall plant growing up to 6 feet high if it can avoid the mower. Wild Mignonette is shorter and bushier.

Weld Reseda luteola [1st Red]

Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea [1st Red]

We are also nearing peak clover season.   White Clover is the most common and is the one that conceals your golf ball even when it's only just off the fairway.

White Clover Trifolium repens [15th Blue]

Red Clover is also fairly common in wet areas. This one was in the fen on the 3rd Blue.

Red Clover Trifolium pratense [3rd Blue]

 If you look closely, you may also spot Knotted clover, which grows on the 12th on the Blue.

Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum [12th Blue]

Hare's-foot Clover is also common on the 11th of the Blue and the Doghouse range in particular.

Hare's-foot Clover Trifolium arvense [Doghouse range]

From hare's foot to the animal itself.  This one was on the 2nd Blue.

Brown Hare [2nd Blue]

The Great-crested Grebe is still on the reservoir.  A Lesser Black-backed Gull also stopped by earlier in the week.

Lesser Black-backed Gull [Reservoir]

A Buzzard also flew over this evening.

Buzzard [Reservoir]