26 September 2021

 

Plenty of sunshine in the last few days.  At the back of the 5th Blue I spotted the distinctive berries of the Spindle - a small shrub.  The berries turn bright pink when ripe and have an orange seed inside.  They are also very poisonous.

Spindle Euonymus europaeus [5th Blue]

Kestrels and Buzzards are quite active on the course at the moment.  This Kestrel was hunting in the long grass besides the reservoir, periodically dropping down in search of a small rodent.

Kestrel [Reservoir]

Buzzard [2nd Green]

18 September 2021

One more new plant today - Black Nightshade growing in the wood on the Blue.  I can't believe that I will come across many more this year, but have managed to identify around 250 wild flowers in total around the estate in 2021, and I'm sure that there are plenty more that I have missed.

Black Nightshade Solanum nigrum [6th Blue]

In the hedge on the left of the 2nd on the Blue you can see the Bedeguar Gall - commonly known as Robin's pincushion.  This is a fibrous growth that occurs on roses caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosae. 

Dipoloepis rosae [2nd Blue]

Brimstones are usually the first butterflies that I see in spring.  They are yellow with a distinctive wing shape.  There are still some around now - this one was on a reed in Boundary Fen.

Common Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni  [Boundary Fen]

Nothing new bird-wise, I haven't come across any passage migrants yet.  This Kestrel is usually on the overhead cables at the Doghouse range scanning for small animals to predate.

Kestrel [Doghouse range]

This Kingfisher was doing likewise, scanning for fish in the pond from the bushes by the 4th tee Blue.

Kingfisher [4th Blue]

12 September 2021

 

I have played on each of the courses over the last few days.  All are looking good, particularly with the heather in full bloom on the Green and Red course.

Common Heather Calluna vulgaris [15th Red]

A few more trees fruiting, including this crab apple at the back of the 6th Green.

Crab Apple Malus sylvestris [6th Green]

There are lots of Black-headed Gulls on the fairways at the moment - earthworms are an important food source for them, hence their attraction to the short grass.  Earlier in the week there were large numbers of gulls above the reservoir feeding on a flock of flying ants that had taken to flight in the hot weather.

Black-headed Gull [2nd Red]

Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls [Reservoir]

Butterflies and dragonflies are still around in good numbers.  There were a couple of Brimstone butterflies on the Doghouse range earlier in the week and plenty of Common Darters.

Common Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni [Doghouse range]

Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum [Doghouse range]

5 September 2021

As well as the constant surprises as to what you see around the golf course, it is also interesting to note from time to time what you don't see.  Some birds that are common elsewhere are only occasional visitors to the golf course.  House Sparrows are a good example.  The only place that I have seen them on the estate this year is around the edge of the reservoir and in the hedge next to the driving range.  These two females were part of a flock of half a dozen birds in the bushes on the far left of the driving range.

House Sparrows [Driving range]

A male Blackcap also passed through this area.

Blackcap [Driving range]

In somewhat better light, this Treecreeper was next to the path between the 16th and 17th on the Blue.

Treecreeper [17th Blue]

29 August 2021

 A few new colourful weeds today from the waste areas around the paths and car parks.  

Sun Spurge Euphorbia helioscopia [17th Blue]

Common Field Speedwell Veronica persica [17th Blue]

Small-flowered Cranesbill Geranium pusillum [17th Blue]

Scarlet Pimpernel Lysimachia arvensis [17th Blue]

Blue Fleabane Erigeron acer [Doghouse range]

Autumn Hawkbit Scorzoneroides autumnalism [16th Blue]

Not much else around other than this Brown Hare crouching low to hide just below the 8th tee Blue.

Brown Hare [8th Blue]

23 August 2021

 Two main areas of note on the course at the moment - the fruiting trees and shrubs and the number of dragonflies, particularly around the ponds.  Blackberries are the most numerous fruit, but in various places there are also plums, raspberries, damsels, snowberries, elderberries and sloes.  Snowberries are poisonous (to humans at least), but the rest are edible.

Wild Plum Prunus domestica [Doghouse range]

Bramble Rubus fruticosus [13th Blue]

Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus [Doghouse range]

Elderberry Sambucus nigra [Doghouse range]

The most numerous dragonflies at the moment seem to be Southern Hawkers.  There are lots down by the ponds on the Blue course, but they could turn up anywhere.  This one was on a gorse bush by the 18th Blue.

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea [18th Blue]

There are also a couple of reddish dragonflies around.  Common Hawkers are abundant around all of the courses.  I found this Ruddy Darter by the 6th on the Blue.

Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum [6th Blue]

Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum [Doghouse range]

16 August 2021

 

The latest flowering of Frilford's specialities, Grass of Parnassus grows just short of the stream on the 4th of the Green.  It has striking white flowers with green veins on the petals - there are around twenty plants, most of which were in bud this morning, but a couple were flowering.

Grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris [4th Green]

A few metres away is Devil's bit Scabious.  This has small globular purple flowerheads and it seems to prefer the damper conditions compared to the more numerous Field Scabious, which grows in the rough in drier areas.

Devil's Bit Scabious Succisa pratensis [4th Green]

Field Scabious Knautia arvensis [4th Red]

15 August 2021

Fairly quiet on the course at the moment with the latest flowering plants still out, but a bit early for the autumn passage of migrants.  I managed to spot a couple of new flowers.  Bristly Ox Tongue is another in the Dandelion family and is named after the stiff hairs on its leaves and stem.  There are a few around the courses - this one was on the waste ground by the 17th Blue.

Bristly Oxtongue Helminthotheca echioides [17th Blue]

On the 15th Red I found this small shrub which I think is Duke of Argyll's Teaplant - an introduced plant that is a native of China.

Duke of Argyll's Teaplant Lycium barbarum [15th Red]

The most productive place for birds is still the small wood behind the 16th Blue and around the reservoir.  At least one Spotted Flycatcher is always there.  Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were also both vocal this morning.

Green Woodpecker [Reservoir]

Great spotted Woodpecker [16th Blue]

Spotted Flycatcher [16th Blue]

There is also a family of Grey Wagtails.  I saw six in the car park behind the Greenkeepers' hut.   There is usually one feeding on flies in the area where the mowers are cleaned.

Grey Wagtail [3rd Red]

Not far away, this Muntjac Deer was on the 17th tee.

Muntjac Deer [17th Blue]

There are also still lots of Butterflies enjoying the flowers.

Peacock Aglais io [3rd Red]

Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus [17th Blue]

7 August 2021

Lots of small birds feeding on berries and seeds around the courses at the moment.  The wood around the 13th/16th of the Blue course is particularly productive, with Willow Warblers, Goldcrests, Goldfinches, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blackcaps, Treecreepers, Nuthatches, Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Spotted Flycatchers, Robins and Wrens all very easy to see.

Willow Warbler [16th Blue]

Goldcrest [16th Blue]

It is particularly encouraging to see lots of Spotted Flycatchers around the course at the moment.  A pair was hunting for flies in the wood and is the third location on the estate that I have seem a family of Flycatchers.  It is possible that it is the same birds following me around, but more likely that there are two or three groups of birds.

Spotted Flycatchers [16th Blue]

On the reservoir there are a couple of resident families of Tufted Ducks, Coot and Little Grebes with Cormorants and Canada Geese calling in from time to time.

Little Grebe [Reservoir]

There are also lots of birds feeding by the 3rd on the Blue.   This is a juvenile Goldfinch feeding on a Marsh Thistle.  It has the yellow wing bar, but not yet the red face.

Goldfinch [3rd Blue]

Wren [3rd Blue]