14 May 2025

 Had a walk around the estate today.  This year I have heard a Lesser Whitethroat on the course for the first time in a few years.  Its territory seems to be centred around the footpath to the left of the 5th on the Red course.  They are easy to hear, but virtually impossible to see or photograph as they generally stay hidden in bushes.  In several hours of trying, this is the best picture that I managed to get.

Lesser Whitethroat [5th Red]

There also Linnets nesting in the gorse in this area.  They are a little less secretive and there are lots of them.

Linnet [5th Red]

A little lower down the footpath you can find a patch of Heath Dog Violets, one of Frilford's speciality flowers.  They are a bit bluer than the more common violets and have a yellow spur.

Heath Dog Violet Viola canina [4th Red]

Cinnabar moths are quite common on the courses at this time of year.  They have distinctive red colouring and fly during the day.  Later in the year, look out for their black and yellow caterpillars.  This one was on the grass on the 1st Blue.

Cinnabar  Tyria jacobaeae [1st Blue]

Also on the 1st Blue I came across this freshwater mussel shell.  I suspect that this may have been eaten by an otter and left on the fairway.

Freshwater Mussel [1st Blue]

24th April 2021

 

Another crisp clear morning, with plenty of different birds singing.  Blackbirds are one of the most common birds around the estate and are singing all over the courses at the moment.  Their song does not quite have the musical quality or clarity of a Song Thrush.  I've also only noticed this year that they seem to start singing slightly later than thrushes - perhaps for fear of being shown up.  This one was on the 8th, you can also hear a Wren in the background.

There are lots of warblers singing around the course.  I heard at least three Willow Warblers and numerous Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.  This clip is a Chiffchaff on the 6th, but you can also hear a Blackcap singing in the background.

I saw and heard a Lesser Whitethroat on the left of the 2nd on the Blue, towards the end of the fairway.  They are rather shy birds and difficult to spot, and have a white throat with uniform grey upper-parts and dark legs.  I heard one in the same spot last year, so hopefully it should be around for the summer.

Lesser Whitethroat [2nd Blue]

 Like most warblers, Lesser Whitethroats have a distinctive song, in their case ending with a bit of trill - diggadiggadiggadigga, which you can hear in this brief clip:

There are lots of Linnets singing around the course all over the Blue and Red - this one was on the 5th Red:

The Reed Buntings are also still around the 3rd and 4th on the Blue:

Reed Bunting [3rd Blue]

There are quite a few mammals around at the moment.  I regularly see Roe Deer and Muntjac.  There are a few baby rabbits about and at least 2 pairs of Brown Hares on the Blue course.  This one was on the 15th.

Brown Hare [15th Blue]

Hares are longer-legged than rabbits and also move very differently:

I had a nice moment walking along the footpath beside the 5th on the Red when a Stoat ran towards me, seemingly oblivious to my presence until the last minute.  I could just have done with a bit more warning to get the camera set up properly.