31 May 2021

The golf competition season is well underway.  I was in Wales last week taking Luke to the Welsh Youth Open and am up at Woodhall Spa this week taking him to another competition.  

In between I managed a quick walk round the course.  Conditions were rather murky first thing and there weren't many birds to photograph, but new flowers continue to appear.

Starting in the car park there are a few more flowers on the wall, in addition to the Fairy Foxgloves:

Biting Stonecrop Sedum acre [Car park]

Rue-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga tridactylites [Car park]

Common Poppy Papava rhoeas [Car park]

In the trees to the left of the 13th fairway Red I came across Sanicle - not a plant that I have encountered before.   

Sanicle Sanicula europaea [13th Red]

Common in shady spots, particularly around the reservoir is Bur Chervil.

Bur Chervil Anthriscus caucalis [3rd Red]

On waste areas on various spots around the course is White Bryony.  This plant is actually a member of the cucumber family, although this particular species is quite toxic.  This one was growing on the right of 15 Red.

White Bryony Bryonia dioica [15th Red]

If you've walked near the fairway anywhere on the Green course, you have almost certainly trodden on Bird's-foot, a tiny pea-like plant that is prolific on the short turf.

Bird's-foot Ornithopus perpusillus [15th Green]

Another tiny plant growing on the Green is Parsley Piert with distinctive lobed leaves but flowers that are green and too small to see.

Parsley Piert Aphanes arvensis [14th Green]

On the thirteenth Red I found a Mayfly by the stream.  This is actually a different species than the ones on that I saw earlier in the month on the 3rd Blue.

Mayfly Ephemera danica [13th Red]

There are a surprisingly large number of shieldbug species in the UK.  Fortunately there are various internet sites devoted to them.  I found this one on the 18th Blue - I think that it's a Red-legged Shieldbug.  It was actually one of three - the other two fell off the leaf when I moved it with the camera - I'm not sure if this was a deliberate escape ploy or poor balance.

Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes [18th Blue]

15 May 2021

 

Went down in between rain showers this afternoon to have a look at the pond on the 3rd Blue.  This is one of the least productive parts of the course for me golf-wise,  but one of the most productive spots wildlife-wise.  Today there were a few different insects around, albeit some more attractive than others.

Orange-tips are attractive butterflies - there were 3 or 4 flying around the pond.  Only the males have orange tips to their wings.  They feed on Cuckoo Flower - such as the one this female has landed on.

Orange-tip [3rd Blue]

Common here and around much of the course are Small Coppers.  They have rather erratic flight and copper-coloured upperwings.

Small Copper [3rd Blue]

Mayflies only live for a day or two after changing from nymph to fly, giving them limited time to find a mate and reproduce, hence their latin name Ephemera. These two at least seem to have succeeded - although I hope that my pointing a large camera at them from 12 inches away didn't spoil their moment.

Mayfly Ephemera vulgata [3rd Blue]

Following a similar life cycle are Alder Flies, whose nymphs also live at the bottom of ponds and live as adults only for a few days.

Alder Fly Sialis lutaria [3rd Blue]

There were quite a lot of these shiny purple beetles.  There are around 4000 species of beetle in the UK.  I haven't checked them all, but I think that these are Alder Leaf Beetles.

Alder Leaf Beetle Agelastica alni [3rd Blue]

The birds were enjoying this insect emergence.  A pair of Reed Bunting nest on the far side of the pond and were picking off the slow-flying Mayflies.

A Kingfisher was also showing well, hovering over the pond at one point.  This seems to be the best spot on the courses to see them at the moment.

Kingfisher [3rd Blue]

Goldfinches were collecting nesting material on the margins of the pond.  This one looks in need of a shave.

Goldfinch [3rd Blue]

One of the characteristic plants of this hole is Common Comfrey, which grows along the stream and in the fen.  This one was growing on the bank behind the pond.

Common Comfrey  Symphytum officinale [3rd Blue]