26 February 2023

 I haven't been out too much of late, but had a walk around the courses first thing this morning.  There was nothing too unusual, but it is nice to see an increase in Greenfinches, particularly around the first tee on the Red course.  As I stopped off to do some practice at the Doghouse practice ground this Magpie sat on the fence while I photographed from the car.

Magpie [Doghouse practice ground]

On the Blue course there were quite a few Woodpeckers around, both Green and Greater-spotted.  A pair of Kingfishers was near the bridge by the 2nd green.

Kingfisher [2nd Blue]

A Blue Tit was feeding on the Bullrushes next to the 3rd green.

Blue Tit [3rd Blue]

There is a lot of work going on to clear the ditch on the Blue course.  Hopefully this will make it a bit more difficult for badgers to cross...

On the Red course I noticed these artificial bee-hives which have appeared between the 13th and 15th.  

There are also plenty of Snowdrop patches around the course.  These were on the 5th Red.

Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis [5th Red]

7 August 2022

 I hear foxes at Frilford from time to time in the woods on the Blue and Green courses, but I haven't seen one since starting to log the wildlife around the course.   There was one early this morning in the field behind the 1st Blue.

Red Fox [1st Blue]

It was hunting for rodents in the cut grass and seemed to be finding quite a few from the video - by the size it looks like they are rats that it is feasting on.  

Muntjac and Roe Deer were also in the field while this was happening.

Roe Deer [1st Blue]

I didn't hear many Willow Warblers singing this year, but there seem to be plenty of young birds about in late summer.  This one was feeding near the footpath to the 5th Red.

Willow Warbler [5th Red]

Familiar birds otherwise.

Blue Tit [5th Red]

Spotted Flycatcher [4th Blue]

7 November 2021

 

This week has been the first proper cold spell of the winter and it has coincided with the arrival of the first winter visitors - I have seen Redwings, Siskins and Redpolls flying over various parts of the courses this week.

The scale of the work on the irrigation system is very impressive.  The reservoir is completely drained at the moment as the silt is removed and should create a significantly more efficient watering system once completed, although duck photos may be at a premium this winter.

If you have been perplexed recently after a shot into the 4th green on the Blue has seemed further away than expected or disappeared entirely, I may have the answer.  I played the hole this evening and watched a Carrion Crow roll and then fly off with my playing partner's ball, dropping it in the field behind the 5th tee (much to my amusement).  I then left a ball on the green and watched as same crow returned to the oak tree behind the 4th green and, once we had left the green, did exactly the same thing with this ball.  It is quite a feat to open its beak wide enough to grab the ball.

If this happens and you see a crow or other animal take your ball, then this is covered under rule 18-1 (Outside agency).  You are able to replace it at the spot where the ball was originally resting without penalty.  I am a country member at Perranporth Golf Club in Cornwall and they have the same problem on the 11th fairway, but with Herring Gulls rather than crows.  The birds think that they have found a rather round egg.

A few other, less troublesome birds in the sunshine.

Kestrel [4th Blue]

Blue Tit [5th Red]

Red Kite [13th Blue]

Redpoll [3rd Blue]

6 March 2021

 

Had a walk around all of the courses in the sunshine this morning.  A few more flowers are appearing:

Common Storksbill Eodrium cicutarium [3rd Red]

Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris [Driving Range]

I chatted to one of the group of volunteers who work regularly on behalf of English Nature on the swampy area to the left of the 13th.  

This area is calcareous fen, which is very unusual in England and they are looking to restore the environment so that it supports some of the rare plants, including orchids and louseworts which were formerly recorded here and are seen in the marshy area around the 4th on the Green and the 16th on the Red - you can see more details on  https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/projects/oxfordshire-fens-project .  This habitat, along with the acid grasslands on the estate is the main reason for Frilford's site of special scientific interest (SSSI) status.

Elsewhere I saw a flock of around a dozen Linnets to the side of the 5th on the Red and a pair of Bullfinches in the same spot, the first time that I have seen either species on the course this year.

Linnets [5th Red]

Other birds included: 

Kestrel on the 2nd Blue

Stock Doves on the 2nd Red 

Redpolls feeding on the ground in the trees on the 1st Blue 

A couple of Chiffchaffs on the 1st and 2nd of the Blue

Grey wagtails near the Greenkeepers' hut near the 16th Blue

Chiffchaff [2nd Blue]

Blue Tit [3rd Blue]

Wren [3rd Blue]

Grey Wagtail [16th Blue]

Redpoll [1st Blue]

7 November 2020

 Crossbills still showing well on the side of the 3th fairway on the red.

6 or 7 Redpolls on the path to the left of the 3rd hole on the blue.  

Redpoll [3rd Blue]

Nearby there was also a Treecreeper.

Long tailed tits in various vocal flocks about the course.  Often with other birds including Goldcrests and blue tits.

Long-tailed tit [13th Blue]

Long-tailed tit [3rd Blue]

Blue tit [13th Red]

Goldcrest [13th Blue]

A pair of jays on the left of the 12th on the Red.

Jay [12th Red]

Quite a few early redwings feeding on berries around the course.  This one was on the right of the 16th on the Red:

Redwing [16th Red]

A couple of roe deer on the 6th tee on the Blue.