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]

29 May 2023

I went up to the driving range at Tubney and the Doghouse range to look at butterflies this afternoon.  There were plenty about - I came across Brown Argus, Common Blue, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Small White and Brimstone.  A few settled and allowed me to photograph.

Brown Argus Aricia agestis [Doghouse practice ground]

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas [Doghouse practice ground]

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria [13th Blue]

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus [Tubney driving range]

Greater and Lesser Stitchwort are both in flower on the Red course at the moment and are quite similar to Field Mouse Ear which is also in flower on the Red and Blue courses.

Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea [4th Red]

Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea [6th Red]

Field Mouse-ear Cerastium arvense [Doghouse practice ground]

5 June 2021

 

Very hot and sunny today - everything looking very lush and green.  

On the Doghouse range I managed to find another of the rare Frilford plants - Hoary Cinquefoil.  This is another Potentilla and can be identified by the downy white hairs on the back of the leaves and stem.  I found it on the left of the range near the car park.

Hoary Cinquefoil Potentilla argentia [Doghouse range]

Easier to spot, the Lupins on the Doghouse range are quite spectacular at the moment.

Tree Lupin Lupinus arboreus [Doghouse range]

There are a couple of species of Sandwort around the course at the moment, these are rather inconspicuous white flowers.  Thyme-leaved Sandwort grows to the right of the 15th Red and the much larger Three-nerved Sandwort grows in a few places, including the wood behind the 6th Blue and on the left of the 13th Red.

Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia [ 15th Red]

Three-nerved Sandwort Moehringia trinvervia [6th Blue]

Lesser Stitchwort is fairly common and can be found growing in the rough in various places around the course.

Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea [13th Red]

The next batch of orchids are starting to flower in the damp areas.  Common Spotted Orchids are the most frequent around the courses.  

Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii [16th Red]

Yellow Irises are also starting to show, particularly around the pond by the 4th tee on the Blue.

Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus [4th Blue]

Also plenty of insects about at the moment.  This Beautiful Demoiselle was on the 4th Blue

Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo [4th Blue]

Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines [Doghouse range]

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas [15th Red]

Fairly quiet bird-wise.  Most seem more focused on feeding their broods than posing for photos, but there are quite a few noisy woodpeckers around.

Great-spotted Woodpecker [2nd 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]