29 October 2022

I have been away during most of October and there was a big change in the courses since my last visit.  Everything seems a lot damper and greener, but also a lot chillier.  Whilst practice at the Doghouse range I photographed a few of the fungi.

Field Mushroom Agaricus campestris [Doghouse practice ground]

Common Earthball Scleroderma citrinum [Doghouse practice ground]

Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans [Doghouse practice ground]

Blackening Waxcap Hygrocybe conica [Doghouse practice ground]

Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus [Doghouse practice ground]

There is also the odd flower still clinging on.  This Musk Mallow was by the reservoir.

Musk Mallow Malva moschata [Reservoir]

24 October 2021

It is really fungi season at this time of year - the flowers are mostly over and it is a bit early for wintering birds.  I had a walk around the Doghouse range yesterday and came across a few different types. Blackening Waxcaps are quite distinctive.  They start off bright yellow but quickly turn black:

Blackening Waxcap Hyrocybe conica [Doghouse range]

I think that this clump are Clustered Brittlestems.

Clustered Brittlestems Psathyrella multipedata [Doghouse range]

Shaggy Inkcaps are distinctive and are all over the estate at the moment.  This patch on the Doghouse range was in various states of decay:

Shaggy Inkcaps Coprinus comatus [Doghouse range]

Common puffballs are abundant at the moment, on the courses and the ranges in the short grass.

Common Puffball Lycoperdon perlatum [Doghouse range]

Mosaic Puffballs are more impressive.  This one on the left of the 5th Green was one of the largest that I have seen.

Mosaic Puffball Lycoperdon utriformis [5th Green]

10 October 2021

Lots of interesting fungi around the courses at the moment.  I'm no expert, so struggle to identify most of what I find, but some are quite obvious. The most colourful and distinctive is probably the Fly Agaric, which grows in some numbers between the 4th green and 5th tee on the Red.

Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria [4th Red]

Also distinctive is the Shaggy Inkcap, this patch was growing behind the 11th tee on the Blue.

Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus [11th Blue]

This looks like a Field Mushroom or possibly a Horse Mushroom, growing on the 5th Red.

Field Mushroom Agaricus campestris [5th Red]

Mosaic Puffballs are also quite common on the Red course.  These two specimens, in different stages of growth were also on the 5th.

Mosaic Puffballs Lycoperdon utriforme [5th Red]

I haven't seen any unusual birds recently, but it is interesting how many Lesser Black-backed Gulls fly over in the late evening in a V-formation - all heading in the same direction to roost at Farmoor reservoir.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls [13th Red]

15 November 2020

Sunny day, so had a long walk around all 3 courses.  I started on the green course where I had some nice views of an unusually pale buzzard:

Buzzard [9th Green]

Buzzard [9th Green]

Elsewhere, there were a few birds about, but mostly flying over in the blustery conditions.  Including a Cormorant flying over the 15th on the Red and 3 Ravens at various points on the Red and the usual large flocks of Rooks and Jackdaws on the Blue and Red.

Raven [8th Red]

Jackdaw [3rd Red]

It the trees to the left of the 4th and 5th fairways on the Blue course I counted 45 Red Kites.  An impressive number given that in 1990 this figure was about the same as the UK population.

Red Kite [4th Blue]

There were a few birds on the reservoir.  A group of Tufted Ducks, a couple of Mallard, a flock of Black-headed Gulls and two Little Grebes.

Little Grebe [reservoir]

Good numbers of Redwings, Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes and the odd Song Thrush feeding on berries at various parts of the course, in particular on the Red course on the 14th, 15th. 

Song Thrush [16th Red]

Pied Wagtail [14th Red]

I have added set up a couple of feeders behind the 13th/14th on the Red, so keep an eye open for small birds on these.

There are also quite a few fungi about.  Small clusters of Shaggy Inkcaps are visible about the course including by the practice net.  I found another on the 6th on the Red.  

Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus [6th Red]

Shaggy Inkcap Coprinus comatus [6th Red]

Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria [6th Red]

Horse Mushroom Agaricus arvensis [14th Red]