9 June 2024

 

Lots of sunshine in the early morning this weekend.  It was nice to see that the Spotted Flycatchers have returned.  There are usually three or four pairs that nest on the estate.  Today I saw a pair behind the 10th tee on the Blue and to the right of the 9th fairway.

Spotted Flycatcher [10th Blue]

There was a Herring Gull on the 11th fairway on the Blue.  I don't see them very often at Frilford, more usual are Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls.  They are large gulls with a light grey back and black wingtips, more usually seen steeling your fish and chips at the seaside.

Herring Gull [11th Blue]

In Two Pine Fen, some of the rarer flowers are starting to appear.   These Meadow Thistles are dotted about but easy to see.   Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchids grow in the middle and stout footwear is required to visit.  I can also see a lot of Marsh Helleborine coming into bud.

Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum [16th Red]

Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides [16th Red]

Another of Frilford's rare flowers, the Maiden Pink, is in flower to the right of the 10th tee green.

Maiden Pink Dianthus deltoides [10th Green]

There is also a nice display of Southern March Orchids to the left of the 3rd fairway on the Green.

Southern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza praetermissa [3rd Green]

14 June 2021

Had a quick walk around some of the Blue this morning in the sunshine and played on the Green this evening.

Came across a new species of damselfly on the pond in front of the 4th tee.  There were quite of few of them flying round.

Blue-tailed Damselfly (male) Ischnura elegans [4th Blue]

Both Dog Rose and Honeysuckle are scrambling across the Hedgerow to the left of the 2nd.

Dog Rose Rosa canina [2nd Blue]

Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum [2nd Blue]

I found another Pyramidal Orchid between the 8th and 11th, this time fully in flower, not far from the Southern Marsh Orchids (first photo).

Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis [10th Blue]

In amongst the thick rough there are a few different species of thistle - providing extra incentive to keep the ball on the fairway, particularly if wearing shorts or a skirt.  Musk thistle is the one that has large nodding flower heads.

Musk Thistle Carduus nutans [12th Blue]

Welted thistle has smaller flowers and branched stems and lots of spiny wings all the way up the stem.

Welted Thistle Carduus crispus [15th Blue]

Marsh thistle has unbranched stems and a cluster of flowers at the top.

Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre [4th Green]

Meadow Thistle is friendlier and has no harsh spines and a single flower on a long stalk.  You can see this growing in the fen around the 4th Green/16th Red.

Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum [16th Red]