29 May 2023

I went up to the driving range at Tubney and the Doghouse range to look at butterflies this afternoon.  There were plenty about - I came across Brown Argus, Common Blue, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Small White and Brimstone.  A few settled and allowed me to photograph.

Brown Argus Aricia agestis [Doghouse practice ground]

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas [Doghouse practice ground]

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria [13th Blue]

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus [Tubney driving range]

Greater and Lesser Stitchwort are both in flower on the Red course at the moment and are quite similar to Field Mouse Ear which is also in flower on the Red and Blue courses.

Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea [4th Red]

Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea [6th Red]

Field Mouse-ear Cerastium arvense [Doghouse practice ground]

5 June 2021

 

Very hot and sunny today - everything looking very lush and green.  

On the Doghouse range I managed to find another of the rare Frilford plants - Hoary Cinquefoil.  This is another Potentilla and can be identified by the downy white hairs on the back of the leaves and stem.  I found it on the left of the range near the car park.

Hoary Cinquefoil Potentilla argentia [Doghouse range]

Easier to spot, the Lupins on the Doghouse range are quite spectacular at the moment.

Tree Lupin Lupinus arboreus [Doghouse range]

There are a couple of species of Sandwort around the course at the moment, these are rather inconspicuous white flowers.  Thyme-leaved Sandwort grows to the right of the 15th Red and the much larger Three-nerved Sandwort grows in a few places, including the wood behind the 6th Blue and on the left of the 13th Red.

Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia [ 15th Red]

Three-nerved Sandwort Moehringia trinvervia [6th Blue]

Lesser Stitchwort is fairly common and can be found growing in the rough in various places around the course.

Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea [13th Red]

The next batch of orchids are starting to flower in the damp areas.  Common Spotted Orchids are the most frequent around the courses.  

Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii [16th Red]

Yellow Irises are also starting to show, particularly around the pond by the 4th tee on the Blue.

Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus [4th Blue]

Also plenty of insects about at the moment.  This Beautiful Demoiselle was on the 4th Blue

Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo [4th Blue]

Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines [Doghouse range]

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas [15th Red]

Fairly quiet bird-wise.  Most seem more focused on feeding their broods than posing for photos, but there are quite a few noisy woodpeckers around.

Great-spotted Woodpecker [2nd Blue]