18 May 2025

 

I played the Blue course again today.  Nice to see the Yellow Flag Irises coming into flower in the marshy area on the 9th.

Yellow Flag Iris pseudacorus [9th Blue]

The caterpillars of the Peacock Butterfly feed exclusively on nettles.  There were plenty on this patch.  The adults are more attractive than their larvae!

Peacock caterpillars Aglais io [5th Blue]

Lots of Mistle Thrushes around the estate at the moment.  This one was near the 6th green.

Mistle Thrush [6th Blue]

Really nice to see that Spotted Flycatchers have returned again this year.  This was one of a pair by the 10th tee.

Sptted Flycatcher [10th Blue]

8 May 2022

 

A lovely May morning - I had a quick walk around the estate.  There was nothing of particular note today, although I did find a new flower for the Frilford list - this Bush Vetch was growing in the woods to the left of the 1st Blue.

Bush Vetch Vicia sepium [1st Blue]

The Early Purple Orchids are properly in flower in Two Pine Fen.  There are 5 or 6 plants in total.

Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula [4th Green]

I counted 25 Tufted Duck on the reservoir this afternoon as well as a pair of Coot, some Little Grebes and a family of Mallard.  Otherwise just the usual birds and animals around the courses.

Peacock Butterfly Aglais io [Tubney range]

Roe Deer and Brown Hare [2nd Blue]

Long-tailed Tit [3rd Blue]

Stock Dove [Reservoir]

15 August 2021

Fairly quiet on the course at the moment with the latest flowering plants still out, but a bit early for the autumn passage of migrants.  I managed to spot a couple of new flowers.  Bristly Ox Tongue is another in the Dandelion family and is named after the stiff hairs on its leaves and stem.  There are a few around the courses - this one was on the waste ground by the 17th Blue.

Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides [17th Blue]

On the 15th Red I found this small shrub which I think is Duke of Argyll's Teaplant - an introduced plant that is a native of China.

Duke of Argyll's Teaplant Lycium barbarum [15th Red]

The most productive place for birds is still the small wood behind the 16th Blue and around the reservoir.  At least one Spotted Flycatcher is always there.  Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were also both vocal this morning.

Green Woodpecker [Reservoir]

Great spotted Woodpecker [16th Blue]

Spotted Flycatcher [16th Blue]

There is also a family of Grey Wagtails.  I saw six in the car park behind the Greenkeepers' hut.   There is usually one feeding on flies in the area where the mowers are cleaned.

Grey Wagtail [3rd Red]

Not far away, this Muntjac Deer was on the 17th tee.

Muntjac Deer [17th Blue]

There are also still lots of Butterflies enjoying the flowers.

Peacock Aglais io [3rd Red]

Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus [17th Blue]

4 April 2021

Very sunny Easter Day.   A few new flowers to see and butterflies starting to emerge.  There were a quite a number of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies on the Doghouse practice range.

Peacock [Doghouse range]

Moschatel is a rather inconspicuous plant.  Also known as the Good Friday Flower, due to its flowering date and Town Hall clock due to the fact that it has 5 flowers in each cuboid cluster, 4 pointing outwards and one upwards.  There is a patch to the left of the 18th on the Green.

Mostachel Adoxa moschatellina [18th Green]

Some more plants included

Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana [13th Red]

Early Forget-me-not Myosotis ramosissima [Doghouse range]

Common Storksbill Erodium cicutarium [Doghouse range]