20 April 2024

 

I went onto the estate this morning out to have a look at some of the spring flowers around the courses.  Some of the most striking are the March Marigolds which grow in the marshy areas near the 3rd and 9th on the Blue. There seems to be a particularly good display this year

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris [9th Blue]

Between the 6th and 16th on the Green course I came across Meadow Saxifrage.  I can't believe how I have missed this in previous years and there are lots of obvious clusters of it here.  Saxifrages are more commonly known as mountain species, but Meadow Saxifrage grows on unimproved grassland in the UK.  There is one other Saxifrage that grows at Frilford in a more alpine environment on the main card park wall - Rue-leaved Saxifrage.  This is not so easy to spot as it is a lot smaller.

Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulata [16th Green]

Rue-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga tridactylites [Car Park]

A more conspicuous alpine plant, also growing of the wall of the car park is Fairy Foxgloves.

Fairy Foxglove Erinus alpinus [Car park]

One rather delicate flower that is all over the marshy areas of the course at this time of year is Cuckoo Flower, also known as Lady's Smock or Mayflower.  This patch was on the 18th on the Red.

Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis [18th Red]

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.

2 April 2021

 

Plenty more signs of spring and plenty of yellow about today.  There were 5 Yellow Wagtails on the 9th fairway this morning.   These are classic golf course passage migrants, liking short grass - other than golf courses you tend to see them in fields with grazing cows.  Quite a few have been reported in Oxfordshire in the past week and they tend to appear in April and September.  They are similar to Grey Wagtails but are a lot more yellow, particularly on the head and upper parts.  They also tend to be in parties of several birds, whereas you usually see Grey Wagtails singly on in pairs.

Yellow Wagtails [9th Blue]

Yellow Wagtail [9th Blue]

A couple more migrants also around.  I saw the first Swallow on the course flying over the 3rd on the Red yesterday and saw and heard a Blackcap singing on the 14th on the Red this morning.

A few more spring flowers have started to bloom.  The primroses around the stream on the 18th on the Red are quite spectacular.  There is also a patch on the 18th on the Green along with a few Wood Anemones.

Primrose Primula vulgaris [18th Green]

Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa [18th Green]

If you are unfortunate enough to push your ball into the hazard on the right of the 2nd on the Blue, have a look for the Marsh Marigolds.  Their bright yellow flowers may offer some solace.

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris [2nd Blue]