6 June 2021

Found a new bird on the reservoir today - it's the first time that I've seen a Great-crested Grebe here.  There are a lot of them on Farmoor reservoir, so I suspect that they call in from time to time.

Great-crested Grebe [Reservoir]

A pair Tufted Ducks were on the pond on the 3rd Blue first thing this morning.  There were also several more on the reservoir along with Gadwall and Mallard.

 

Tufted Ducks [3rd Blue]

There are also plenty of young birds around.  This Chiffchaff was part of a family group of 5 or 6 birds behind the 14th Blue.

Chiffchaff [14th Blue]

There were a lot of Beautiful Demoiselle's on the left of the 4th on the Blue, centred around the small pond. The males have darker wings and are a more vibrant blue/green than the females.

Beautiful Demoiselle (Male) Calopteryx virgo [4th Blue]

Beautiful Demoiselle (Female) Calopteryx virgo [4th Blue]

There are also a few of the much smaller Common Blue Damselflies around.  This one was at the bottom of the Tubney range to the left of the 3rd Red.

Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum [Tubney range]

Nearby in the long grass was this Cardinal Beetle.

Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis [3rd Red]

As I visited different areas of the courses, I saw lots of Common Spotted Orchids - anywhere with water nearby.  This was one of the patch in the fen on the 3rd Blue.

Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii [3rd Blue]

There are also a few different species of Speedwell in the rough.  This is Slender Speedwell from the 13th Red. There is a nice display of Germander Speedwell along the hedge on the Doghouse range.  

Slender Speedwell Veronica filiformis [13th Red]

Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys [Doghouse range]

In the shorter grass you may also come across Thyme-leaved Speedwell, which has smaller, paler flowers.  This photo is from early May, but there are still plenty in flower.

Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllifolia [15th Blue]

7 May 2021

 

New flowers are appearing on the course at an alarming rate, particularly those in the pea family.  Spotted Medick grows on the path between the 3rd Red and the reservoir and is so named because of the spots on its leaves.

Spotted Medick Medicago arabica [3rd Red]

Similar, but much smaller is Lesser Trefoil - this patch was behind the 16th tee on the Green.

Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium [16th Green]

Hairy Tare is a rather inconspicuous vetch that grows in long grass.  I've found this next to the reservoir and on the left of the 15th Blue.

Hairy Tare [near Reservoir]

Very common in the rough, particularly on the Blue course is, aptly, Common Vetch.

Common Vetch Vicia savita [16th Blue]

There are lots of species of Speedwell around the courses.  One that I've not seen before grows just along from the 15th tee on the Blue - Thyme-leaved Speedwell

Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpylifolia [15th Blue]

Also on the 15th Blue, but almost too small to see is Wall Speedwell.

Wall Speedwell Veronica arvensis [15th Blue]

Also on the 15th Blue, Field Forget-me-not.

Field Forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis [15th Blue]

Also on the 15th Blue I came across these rather odd-looking plants.  I thought that they were some type of fungi, but it turns out that they are actually Horsetail shoots.

Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense [15th Blue]

There aren't many Cowslips on the course.  There is, however, a nice display by the stream on the 8th of the Green (top photo).  

Cowslip Primula veris [8th Green]

Not too much around bird-wise.  Swallows are fairly constant on the reservoir.  Earlier in the week there were a few Sand Martin's mixed in with them.  They are smaller birds with brown backs and a band across their chest - just about visible in the photo below.

Sand Martin [Reservoir]

Swallow [Reservoir]

Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs are both common and vocal around the courses at the moment.

Chiffchaff [15th Red]

Willow Warbler [4th Red]