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]

13 November 2021

 

Looking very autumnal around the estate at the moment.  Much of the wood around the reservoir is made up of Larch trees, which are unusual among coniferous trees in that they change colour in autumn before shedding their needles over the winter.

European Larch Larix decidua [16th Blue]

Similarly colourful are the Maple trees to the left of the 3rd tee on the Red.

Maple - Acer sp [3rd Red]

There are numerous fungi about.  These Yellow Fieldcaps were growing on some of the compost in the wood behind the 6th Blue.

Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans [6th Blue]

This cluster of Brick Tufts were growing on some wood on the path beside the 3rd Red.

Brick Tuft Hypholoma lateritium [3rd Red]

I have seen a few finches this winter, in particular Siskins and Redpolls, but no sign of the Crossbills that were here in numbers this time last year.   There are plenty of Goldcrests though.  This one was in the wood behind the 16th Blue.

Goldcrest [16th Blue]

21 May 2021

Had a quick look around the front nine of the Red yesterday to see if I could spot any new flowers.   There were a few around.

Goatsbeard is in the Dandelion family and has distinctive grass-like leaves.  It is also know by the name of Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon as it tends to open in the morning sunshine and close up again by midday.  No surprise, given the recent weather, that this one is closed up

Goatsbeard Tragopogon pratensis (2nd Red)

There are a couple of nice patches of Heath Dog Violets on the footpath by the 4th.  These are uncommon nationally, but they are fairly frequent on our courses.  The flowers in this patch are fairly small, probably as an adaption to the mowing - I have found some larger ones by the heather on the Green.

Heath Dog Violets Viola canina [4th Red]

One of the least glamorous plants on the course is Lesser Chickweed, which is very common and often has no petals.  This one was by the relic green to the right of the 1st.

Lesser Chickweed Stellaria pallida [1st Red]

A rather more colourful weed is Wintercress, found short right of the 1st green.

Wintercress Barbarea vulgaris [1st Red]

Similar, but with smaller flowers is Hedge Mustard.  There is quite a lot between the 3rd Red and the reservoir.

Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale [3rd Red]

A few fungi are starting to appear on the course at the moment.  These two Yellow Fieldcaps were at the back of the 2nd Green.

Yellow Fieldcap Bolbitius titubans [2nd Red]