Had a walk round the Red and Blue courses this morning. Most notable sighting was a couple of Common Gulls on the reservoir. I haven't seen these at Frilford before:
Common Gull [Reservoir]
Common Gull with Black-headed Gulls [Reservoir]
Otherwise on the reservoir there was the usual pair of Mallards, a Coot and two or three Little Grebes:
Mallard [Reservoir]
Little Grebe [Reservoir]
I couldn't see any flowers out yet, but other birds of note include:
Had a brief walk round the Red back nine this morning. Most notable thing was the increase in birdsong - always cause for optimism. In particular Great Tits, Blue Tits and Song Thrush.
The usual Jays and Magpies in the trees around the 12th and 13th.
Jay [13th Red]
A flock of 5 Greylag Geese also flew over.
Greylag Geese [13th Red]
Thanks also to this photo of a Buzzard with a hapless rabbit, sent through from Steve Baxter, taken on the Red course in October:
Walked around the first 3 holes of the Blue course this morning. Highlight was a female Reed Bunting on the 3rd. I don't recall seeing one at Frilford before. I managed to get a shot through the reeds...
Reed Bunting [3rd Green]
Other notable birds included:
Lots of siskins and goldfinches on the first 3 holes.
Collard Dove - seen from the practice net area.
Pheasant - two males on the first hole
Around 50 Redwings on the 2nd fairway
3 or 4 Herring Gulls flying over
Siskin [2nd Blue]
On returning to the car park I noticed a buzzard in the trees on the yellow course which stayed put whilst I stayed in the car photographing.
Buzzard [Yellow course]
Buzzard [Yellow course]
I think that this bird is the fairly tame one that is usually around the 2nd fairway on the Green in the evenings. There are at least four resident Buzzards, in addition to this one, look out for:
Another that I see along the first on the Blue and in the tall trees on the left of the 4th and 5th; and
One around the 13th of the Red and the 14th of the Green
Finally I had a quick trip to the Doghouse range where I saw a pair of Crossbills in the small pines at the far end and a couple of Roe Deer in the next field.
First trip out in 2021. Had a very pleasant walk around the Blue course in the sunshine. Stood by the 4th tee as a waves of birds came through the oak trees between the 4th and 9th tees. First a flock of Long-tailed tits with blue tits, great tits and a treecreeper mixed in...
Long-tailed Tit [4th Blue]
Treecreeper [4th Blue]
A flock of Siskins then arrived...
Siskin [4th Blue]
Then a mixed flock of finches arrived, including Goldfinches and four or five Crossbills.
Crossbill [4th Blue]
Crossbill [4th Blue]
Walking further down the 4th and 5th I had nice views of a Kestrel.
Kestrel [5th Blue]
There were also large numbers of Siskins in the trees to the left of the 9th and a Grey Wagtail alongside a Pied Wagtail on the 2nd.
Grey Wagtail [2nd Blue]
Finally, back past the 1st tee there were more Siskins and a Nuthatch.
Had a walk around the front nine of the Blue, followed by the front nine of the Red this morning in the mist. Highlights were a flock of around 20 very obliging Crossbills in the small pines to the right of the 4th hole. This is the first time that I have seen them for a month or so - they are obviously finding plenty to eat around the course still.
Crossbill [4th Red]
Crossbill [4th Red]
I managed to get some video of this male grappling with a pine cone - listen out for their distinctive loud calls.
Elsewhere there were plenty of birds about, including:
Tufted Ducks, coot and little grebes (3) on the reservoir.
A pair of Red-legged Partridges on the chipping area.
A Treecreeper in the small copse between the 1st and 2nd of the Red.
Had a quick walk around the flooded Blue front nine before playing the Green course.
A lot of water about on the first two holes of the Blue:
Brook on the 1st Blue
Brook on the 2nd Blue
On the walk back across from to the 1st tee of the Green I briefly saw a Merlin, flying over the small copse to the left of the 1st on the Blue, the first time that I have seen this small falcon at Frilford. I managed to grap a quick record shot.
Merlin [1st Blue]
Elsewhere I saw the two Red-legged Partridges on the 2nd on the Green and a large number of Red Kites over the road on the Green.
Last day of lockdown. The course was looking in excellent condition on a sunny, frost morning. I had a brief walk around the far end of the Red course.
Was fortunate enough to get views of a stoat first thing, just on the edge of the 12th fairway.
Stoat [12th Red]
Stoat [12th Red]
Not far along on the 12th was the usual flock of Redpolls. I reckon there to be 30-40. They fly around the top of the birch trees in particular, feeding on the seeds. They are difficult to spot and are well-camouflaged among the leaves.
Lesser Redpolls [12th Red]
Lesser Redpoll [12th Red]
Elsewhere large numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares feeding on the berries, a party of 6 wrens in the scrub by the 15th and a buzzard in the trees behind the 13th.
