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]

30 April 2022

The sunshine meant that butterflies were out in good numbers today.  One of the most noticeable at this time of year is the Orange Tip.  The male is easy to identify with orange patches at the end of its wing.  The female is less obvious. 

Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines  [Tubney range]

I saw lots of other butterflies about today including Brimstones, Peacocks, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue.

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria [6th Blue]

Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus [14th Red]

Several Whitethroats were singing on the Doghouse range.  This Whitethroat was singing in the same spot as last weekend.  

Whitethroat [Doghouse range]

Subterraneum clover is one of the specialist species of Frilford.  You can see it on the Doghouse range and on the short rough on the Green course. It is very abundant, but tiny - in this photo I have included a tee for scale.

Subterranean Clover Trifolium subterraneum [Doghouse range]

Another rarity is Heath Dog Violet which is a bit smaller than Common Dog Violet and has a yellow spur.  You can find this between the 7th and 10th on the Gree course and on the footpath alongside the 4th on the Red.

Heath Dog Violet [4th Red]

20 April 2021

Had a quick walk this morning around the reservoir and the top of the Red course.  Most notable sighting was around 20 Sand Martins over the reservoir - sadly too fast for me to get a photo.  

Later on I walked along the footpath next to the first few of the Red to photograph the flowers.  Sticky Mouse-ear is very similar to Little Mouse-ear, but very close inspection shows that it has 10 styles rather than 5 for the latter, it also usually has a cluster of flowers.

Sticky Mouse-ear Cerastium glomeratum [5th Red]

There is a lot of Dove's foot Cranesbill all over the course, just now starting to come into flower.

Dove's-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle [3rd Red]

Same with Garlic Mustard - plenty of this on the 16th on the Green as well as around the first few holes of the Red and besides the practice net.

Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata [18th Blue]

This Summer Snowflake is presumably a garden escape and grows by the bridge on the way to the Blue course.

Summer Snowflake Leucojum aestivan [1st Red]

There is quite a lot of Moschatel on the footpath, particularly between the 1st and 2nd on the Red:

Moschatel Adoxa moschatellina [1st Red]

I've kept a look out for Heath Dog Violets which are found on the course.  They have a yellow spur and rather less heart-shaped leaves that the Common Dog Violet.  I think that this rather moth-eaten specimen is one from the footpath by the side of the 5th on the Red.  I think that there are also some by the fen on the 4th on the Green.

Heath Dog Violet Viola canina [5th Red]

Another butterfly, a Speckled Wood, also by the 5th on the Red.

Speckled Wood [5th Red]