26 August 2025

 I came across this large caterpillar feeding on Himalayan Balsam by the stream on the 3rd Blue.  It will ultimately turn into an Elephant Hawk Moth if it doesn’t get eaten.  With this aim the eye pattern is designed to deter predators.

Elephant Hawk Moth Deilephila elpenr [3rd Blue]

Frilford is always a good spot for Mistletoe Thrushes.  There are also a few pairs of Song Thrushes that breed on the estate.  It was nice to see this young one on the footpath by the 5th Red.

Song Thrushes [5th Red]

Feral Pigeon fly over the course from time to time and occasionally land.  This one was on the 4th tee on the Blue.

2 April 2022

 

Some sunny weather over the last couple of weeks and a definite shift towards spring.  The Redwings seem to have disappeared by now, although I did see some late Fieldfares flying over earlier this morning.  The resident thrushes are in good voice though.  This Song Thrush sings regularly from near the 3rd tee on the Blue and Mistle Thrushes are abundant on the fairways.

Song Thrush [3rd Blue]

Mistle Thush [4th Blue]

It is good to see some water birds returning to the reservoir.  These Tufted Duck were part of a flock on 5 this morning.  There have also been a pair of Coot quite regularly.

Tufted Ducks [Reservoir]

A few different geese are around the pond on the 3rd Blue.  These Greylag Geese were near the water's edge earlier in the week.

Greylag Geese [3rd Blue]

But these Canada Geese were clearly more experienced and knew the safest place to be whilst I lined up my tee shot.

Canada Geese [3rd Blue]

The large flock of visiting Chaffinches and Bramblings has moved on, but elsewhere on the course there are large flocks of Linnets along with other residents such as Greenfinches and Goldfinches - particularly around the 14th and 15th on the Red.

Greenfinch [15th Red]

Magpies are fairly frequent around the estate, but around the 4th and 5th on the Blue some quite large gatherings appear.  I have seen 8 or 9 together.  This morning there was a flock of 4 around the 4th green.

Magpies [4th Blue]

Whilst playing the 18th on the Green earlier in the week I had a very brief glimpse through my binoculars of a Firecrest high in the trees to the left of the tee.  It's the first time that I've seen one on the course although I know that other people have spotted them.

There were a couple of Kingfishers around the 1st on the Blue this morning - by the pond and the stream behind.

Kingfisher [1st Blue]

.. and numerous Treecreepers on all three courses.

Treecreeper [3rd Blue]

Lots of flowers are starting to appear.  Wavy Bittercress is one that I didn't spot last year and which is growing in great quantities in Boundary Fen.

Wavy Bittercress Cardamine flexuosa [13th Red]

Various violets are also brightening shady areas.

Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana [13th Red]

18 April 2021

 

Had a walk around the Red and Blue courses this morning.  A few more plants to tick off for the year, although I'm learning that identification of a lot of species is far from straightforward.  Bluebells are one flower that is fairly easy and a few are appearing on the left of the 13th on the Red.

Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta [13th Red]

This small shrub grows in some quantity on the the left of the 13th on the Red and I think that they are some sort of currant.  I will go for Red Currant for the moment and will hopefully get further clues when they fruit.

Red Currant Ribes rubrum [13th Red]

I think that this is a Dove's Foot Cranesbill on the left of the 15th on the Blue:

Doves-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle [15th Blue]

I think that this is a Wood Forget-me-not on the left of the 13th Red.

Wood Forget-me-not  Myosotis sylvatica [13th Red]

I think that this is Slender Speedwell on the 3rd on the Red.

Slender Speedwell Veronica filiformis [3rd Red]

This is definitely Field Mouse-ear - with the 15th on the Red in the background.

Field Mouse-ear Cerastium arvense [15th Red]

Not too much around bird-wise.  A few more Swallows, four Tufted Duck on the pond by the 4th tee on the Blue and lots of Linnets in the gorse on the 5th and 15th Red, where I think that they nest.

Tufted Duck [4th Blue]

Linnet [5th Red]

Song Thrush [6th Blue]

5 April 2021

Discovered some more Moschatel in the woods by the 1st Green on the Red and a Bulbous Buttercup on the 5th.

Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus [5th Red]

As well as a few familiar birds and insects.

Great spotted Woodpecker [2nd Blue]

Moorhen [1st Red]

Song Thrush [1st Red]

Red-tailed Bumblebee [18th Blue]

23 March 2021

 

Had a walk early the last couple of mornings.  Plenty of Crossbills and Siskins about as usual.  Also managed to spot a couple of new flowers.

Colts-foot is always one of the first flowers to appear at the end of winter.  This one was to the left of the pond on the 3rd Blue.  It is a slightly unusual plant in that the flowers appear well before the leaves.

Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara [3rd Blue]

Rather unobtrusive and difficult to spot is Hairy Bitter-cress.  It is actually all over the course, but particularly near the wall around the 7th tee on the Green course and the Doghouse range.  

Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta [5th Red]

A couple of people have related that there were otters on the 1st on the Blue last year and the greenkeepers recently mentioned to me that they appear to have returned as they found fish remains on the trail between the pond and the nearby stream.  I put up a trail camera to watch this for the last few nights.  I appreciate that it's not exactly Planet Earth - but I think that the two moving white dots in this video are an otter....

The photo is marginally more convincing..

Otter [1st Blue]

There were 3 Reed Bunting on the pond on the 4th Blue with two males (bottom) fighting over a female (top).

Reed Buntings [4th Blue]

and the Song Thrush singing on its usual branch to the left of the 3rd green on the Blue:

Song Thrush [3rd Blue]

I spotted a Kingfisher above the pond on the farm behind the 2nd tee on the Blue.  I photographed this for a while before realising that it was a garden ornament (it was quite a long way away.).

26 February 2021

 Have walked various bits of the course over the last couple of days.   There are definitely signs of spring with flowers starting to appear, birds singing and nesting and even butterflies starting to appear.

Plenty of Crossbills still around on the course.  This flock was in the small pine tree to the right of the 11th tee on the Blue, flying down to drink from the large puddle that persists there - not far from where my sliced drive usually ends up.

Crossbills [11th Blue]

They also frequent the pine trees by the greenkeepers shed, such as this male and female.

Crossbills [16th Blue]

Elsewhere, there are Song Thrushes are still very vocal.  This is the usual one nesting near the 3rd green on the Blue.

This Mistle Thrush looked to have found a potential nest site behind the 6th Green.  I also heard a Skylark for the first time this year to the left of the 2nd on the Blue.  

Mistle Thrush [6th Blue]

There are plenty of Hedge Sparrows singing.  Their song always sounds very upbeat and cheerful.

and other resident birds.

Woodpigeon [4th Blue]

It is a little early for the main spring migrants, but I did spot this Chiffchaff at the side of the 4th fairway and another singing behind the 6th on the Blue.  These are generally summer visitors, although a few do overwinter.

Chiffchaff [4th Blue]

A few flowers are starting to appear.  Some are vary obvious, such as the Snowdrops, which are now very visible on the course:

Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis [5th Red]

Others are a bit less obvious:

Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum [12th Red]

Ivy-leaved Speedwell Veronica hederifolia [12th Red]

Common Whitlow-grass Erophila verna [3rd Red]

A few insects are also visible.  A Brimstone butterfly fluttered by on the 12th Red and a few ladybirds are around:

7 Spot Ladybird [12th Red]

10 February 2021

 

A bright, crisp and cold morning.  I walked a quick loop along some of the Red and Blue courses.   Most notable sighting was a Kingfisher in the stream behind the 1st Green on the Blue course.  I hadn't seen one at Frilford for several months so it was reassuring to know that there is at least one still around.  

There are a few pairs of Mallard around the course at the moment.  These two were on the pond by the 4th tee on the Blue:

Mallard [4th Blue]

A few birds are starting to nest.  This Song Thrush is part of a pair that appear to be nesting in the hedge on the edge of the 3rd hole on the Green.

Song Thrush [3rd Blue]

Plenty of birdsong as well.  The Song Thrush probably has the most musical of the birds that we are likely to hear on the course.  Its song carries a long way, it has a lot of repeated phrases and clarity of notes.  This was the same bird singing on the hedge being the pond on the 3rd.  Listen out for a Green Woodpecker calling nearby in the middle.

Nearby a male Chaffinch was singing from one of the oak trees by the 4th tee.  This bird is answering the calls of another nearby.