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]

17 November 2023

 

I have been up to Frilford a couple of times this week.  There have been a couple of crisp frosty mornings with some sunshine and nice conditions for photography.  Earlier in the week a Little Egret was in the usual spot in the stream in front of the 2nd on the Blue and gradually moved along the stream to the 3rd.

Little Egret [1st and 3rd Blue]

This morning I played the back nine of the Blue and came across a new species for the Frilford list.  Stonechats always seemed a good fit for Frilford as they like heathland habitat, particularly gorse which they often perch atop.  I suspect that they have bred on the estate in the past, but this is the first time that I can recall seeing them.  There was a family party of three birds, a male (top two photos) a femaile (bottom photo) and a juvenile. Hopefully they will stay around and breed.  Their name comes from their song, which sounds like two stones being rubbed together.

Stonechats [11th 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]

21 August 2022

 

Popped out a few times over the week for nine holes and a stroll.  It is fairly quiet nature-wise.  I did come across this tiny frog hopping across the 3rd fairway on the Green course - one of the few areas that generally stays fairly moist.

Common Frog [3rd Green]

There was a Little Egret on the 1st Blue yesterday evening and a Kingfisher on the 3rd.  There are still lots of Spotted Flycatchers about.  There were at least 6 around the 10th tee on the Blue course and unusually they were mostly feeding on the ground.

Spotted Flycatcher [10th Blue]

Otherwise nothing too spectacular.  This Muntjac was on the 8th Blue and the Linnet was one of the flock that is resident around the reservoir.

Muntjac [8th Blue]

Linnet [Reservoir]

9 March 2021

 

Lovely morning.  A few interesting birds about.  Starlings have been surprisingly uncommon on the course this winter, there is a small flock that I sometimes see on the Blue course.  Today they were feeding with the Redwings on the 9th.

Starlings [9th Blue]

A male pheasant was close by.

Pheasant [9th Red]

Much more common are Woodpigeons, this group were feeding on the ivy at the side of the 12th on the Red.

Woodpigeons [12th Red]

A Little Egret and Kingfisher brought a touch of the exotic to the first two holes on the Blue.

Little Egret [2nd Blue]

Kingfisher [1st Blue]

The Crossbills were centred around the 13th on the Red this morning, along with a Chiffchaff and a small flock of Siskins.  I could also see across to a Buzzard sitting in the sunshine on the 14th Green.

Chiffchaff [13th Red]

Buzzard [14th Green]

Redwing [5th Red]

12 February 2021

 

Icy but sunny conditions over the last couple of mornings.  

This morning there was a Little Egret in the stream that runs along the 2nd on the Blue.  These small white herons are more familiar on the Continent, where they are very frequent along any sort of water.  They are relatively new additions to Britain - they were quite rare before 1990, but are now fairly common and you will usually see one if you go to Farmoor reservoir.  I have seen them occasionally at Frilford - usually on the first three holes on the Blue course.  They are striking but dainty birds. They also have characteristic yellow feet, as you can see from the second photo.

Little Egret [2nd Blue]

Little Egret [2nd Blue]

Elsewhere there were a couple of Roe Deer on the 7th fairway on the Red.

Roe Deer [7th Red]