3 August 2023

I had a walk around the Red course this morning and came across a plant that I hadn't spotted before.  Upright Hedge Parsley is actually very common and can be identified by its characteristic fruits which are green with red hairs - albeit you need a magnifier to see these.  This patch was beside the 14th tee, but it is probably common all around the estate.

Upright Hedge-Parsley Torilis japonica [14th Red]

Another Umbellifer nearby, Wild Parsnip, is easier to identify as it has yellow flowers.

Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa [14th Red]

It was nice to see the beehives between the 13th and 15th fully occupied.  The Whitethroats are also still visible with some patience, skulking in the undergrowth and occasionally popping out to look around.

Whitethroat [13th Red]

Wild Thyme is very evident on the 15th/16th/17th and is very popular with butterflies and other insects.

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina on Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus [17th Red]

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas and Brown Argus Aricia agestis Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus

[17th Red]

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Brown Argus Aricia agestis Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus
[17th Red]

One of the most numerous butterflies at this time of year is the Gatekeeper which can be found all over the estate at the moment.  This one was to the right of the 13th Red.

Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus [13th Red]

22 June 2021

Sunny evening, so I had a quick walk around the Blue and Red.  On the third I watched a female Whitethroat hunting for insects in the fen and returning periodically to feed two young birds in the hedge.

Whitethroat [3rd Blue]

Meadow Brown butterflies are quite common in the rough at the moment.  This one was near the reservoir.

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina [Reservoir]

A new type of Damselfly on the 3rd Blue and 4th Red - A White-legged Damselfly.

White-legged Damselfly (male) Platycnemis pennipes [3rd Blue]

White-legged Damselfly (female) Platycnemis pennipes [4th Red]

There are a couple of species of Fumitory on the course at the moment.  Common Fumitory is usually shorter and has a spatula-shaped lower sepal - in common Ramping Fumitory this is straight:

Common Ramping Fumitory Fumaria muralis [3rd Blue]

Common Fumitory Fumaria officinalis [6th Blue]

Heath Speedwell is another species of Veronica and is quite common on the shorter areas of rough.  I've found this on both the Red and Green courses.  

Heath Speedwell Veronica officinalis [4th Red]

Yellow Rattle can be found in the rough on the 13th Red.  It is semi-parasitic, feeding off nutrients in the roots of nearby grasses.

Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor [13h Red]