28 January 2024

 

I went for a walk around the Blue and Red course this morning.  The first time that I have visited in a couple of weeks.  There were a larger numbers of Redwings than I had seen so far this winter, but much smaller numbers than in the previous two years.  There were quite a few finches around, particularly bathing in the ditch on the left of the 3rd Blue - Siskins, Redpolls, Chaffinches and Goldfinches, but again, not in the numbers of previous years.

Redpoll and Goldfinch [3rd Blue]

Waterbirds are enjoying the tranquility of the Blue course.  The Mute Swans seem to move between the 1st and 3rd and a pair of Canada Geese have arrived on the 4th where they usually nest.

Canada Geese [4th Blue]

Mute Swans [1st Blue]

11 December 2023

 There was a bit of sunshine this morning, but also plenty of water on the front nine of the Blue - only the wildlife is getting to play on this section of course at the moment.  Most notable sighting this morning was a large flock of Redpolls.  There is always a flock overwinters at Frilford - today there were around 50 in various places near the 3rd Blue - in particular they were bathing in the ditch that runs down the left hand side.  They are small brown birds brightened up by a patch of brown on their forehead.

Redpolls [3rd Blue]

In the fields to the left of the 4th Blue was a large flock of Lapwings - always distant but with characteristic lazy flight on rounded wings.

Lapwings [4th Blue]

On the walk between the 16th and 17th on the Blue there was a Roe Deer.  They often sleep in this section of the woods.

Roe Deer [16th Blue]

1 December 2023

 

It is the first proper cold snap of the year so far and there have been a few heavy frosts on the courses.  I have seen a few winter migrants arriving, Redwings and Fieldfares have flown overhead but I haven't seen any on the fairways yet.

The pair of Stonechats have been pretty evident on the Red and Blue course, particularly on the 11th Blue.  Today they were on the waste ground to the left of the 3rd Red.

Stonechat [3rd Red]

I was interested to note that the tree holding the hornets nest on the 4th Blue had blown over.  You can see how much the hornets had hollowed out the trunk, leading to its weakening and ultimate demise..

Look out for this cluster of Puffballs next to the 10th tee on the Blue.  I think that they are Stump Puffballs.

Stump Puffballs Lycoperdon pyriforme [10th Blue]

 

17 November 2023

 

I have been up to Frilford a couple of times this week.  There have been a couple of crisp frosty mornings with some sunshine and nice conditions for photography.  Earlier in the week a Little Egret was in the usual spot in the stream in front of the 2nd on the Blue and gradually moved along the stream to the 3rd.

Little Egret [1st and 3rd Blue]

This morning I played the back nine of the Blue and came across a new species for the Frilford list.  Stonechats always seemed a good fit for Frilford as they like heathland habitat, particularly gorse which they often perch atop.  I suspect that they have bred on the estate in the past, but this is the first time that I can recall seeing them.  There was a family party of three birds, a male (top two photos) a femaile (bottom photo) and a juvenile. Hopefully they will stay around and breed.  Their name comes from their song, which sounds like two stones being rubbed together.

Stonechats [11th Blue]

5 November 2023

 

I walked around the front nine of the Blue course today in my wellies.  No other footwear would have been appropriate.  A family of Swans seems to be enjoying the wet conditions and has taken up residence.  Today they were in front of the 4th tee.

Mute Swans [4th Blue]

 The winter finches are more evident now.  There was a flock of forty or so Siskins feeding on the 3rd.

Siskins [3rd Blue]

With conditions becoming more wintry, Red Kites are roosting in large numbers around the course.  This one was perched in the trees at the Tubney Range.

Red Kite [Tubney Range]

23 September 2023

I was forwarded a report of a Dartford Warbler being heard singing near the path alongside the 5th on the Red.  Dartford Warblers are summer visitors and are rare in the UK, particularly in Oxfordshire.  They are also very secretive, spending most time in thick cover.  This one was likely to have been passing through on migration.  I had a couple of trips to try to spot it, but without success.

Some consolation was to find a new bird for the Frilford list on the reservoir - a Shoveler Duck.  This one was a female - the males are rather more colourful.  They are named after their large beak, which they use to sift plant matter from the surface of water.

Northern Shoveler [Reservoir]

Also around the reservoir there were a number of Meadow Pipits.  I only really see these at Frilford when they are on passage and it is interesting to note that I saw them in exactly the same place exactly a year ago.

Meadow Pipit [Reservoir]

30 August 2023

I walked a loop from the 1st Blue around to the 16th Red this morning.  There are a few characteristic plants that provide a last gasp of summer in late August.  The Heather provides some autumnal colour, particularly around the 15th hole on the Red.

Common Heather Calluna vulgaris [15th Red]

In Two-Pine Fen, Grass of Parnassus is a rare flower in southern England and grows just in front of the stream on the 4th Green.  Devil's Bit Scabious has characteristic globular flowers and grows in quite large quantities.

Grass of Parnassus Parnassia palustris [4th Green]

Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis [4th Green]

I stopped for a while behind the 10th green on the Blue course where a large wave of Blue Tits (40-50 birds) passed through, with a Nuthatch and a couple of Spotted Flycatchers mixed in.

Nuthatch [10th Blue]

Spotted Flycatcher [10th Blue]

27 August 2023

I played the front nine of the Blue Course at around 5pm this evening and didn't see another sole.  In one of the trees on the right of the 4th there was a very active Hornets' nest.  I managed to record these impressively large insects and, although this may seem a rather hazardous pursuit, Hornets are generally not aggressive.  

European Hornet Vespa crabro [4th Blue]

On the 5th hole this Brown Hare stopped to watch my golf for a few minutes.  It didn't see anything good.

Brown Hare [5th Blue]

I also saw one of the Kingfishers moving between the 3rd, 2nd and 1st holes.

Kingfisher [1st Blue]

9 August 2023

 Had a quick walk around the Blue and Red courses in the sunshine early this morning.   Beside the 10th tee on the Red I came across half a dozen or so Soapwort plants.  I usually see Soapwort on the 14th/15th of the Red, this is the first time that I have come across them on the 10th.  Their leaves/roots, when boiled, lather up and produce a mild detergent - hence the name.   

Soapwort Saponaria officinalis [10th Red]

There are a lot of young birds around the course at the moment - particularly Willow Warblers and Blackcaps.  This young Blackcap was in the Wood between the 16th and 17th Blue.

Blackcap [16th Blue]

The Grey Heron was next to the pond on the 1st Blue this morning and this rather tame young Roe Deer was in the woods behind the 6th Blue.

Grey Heron [1st Blue]

Roe Deer [6th Blue]

7 August 2023

 

I walked around the front nine of the Blue early this morning.  As you can see from the photo, the fairways were pretty wet after the rain of the last few days.  There wasn't too much about, although I did come across a new plant for my Frilford list.  Lesser Swine-cress grows around the 3rd, although it is not a plant of great beauty.

 Lesser Swine-cress Coronopus didymus [3rd Blue]

Rather prettier is the Field Pansy which is common all over the Blue course.  This one was also on the 3rd

Field Pansy Viola arvensis [3rd Blue]

I also called in briefly at the Doghouse practice ground, which is covered in Knotted Clover at this time of year.  

Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum [Doghouse Practice Ground]

Wild Carrot grows in the car park.  This is one of the easier Umbellifers to identify as once the flowers go over, the umbel curls up into a ball.

Wild Carrot Daucus carota [Doghouse practice ground]

3 August 2023

I had a walk around the Red course this morning and came across a plant that I hadn't spotted before.  Upright Hedge Parsley is actually very common and can be identified by its characteristic fruits which are green with red hairs - albeit you need a magnifier to see these.  This patch was beside the 14th tee, but it is probably common all around the estate.

Upright Hedge-Parsley Torilis japonica [14th Red]

Another Umbellifer nearby, Wild Parsnip, is easier to identify as it has yellow flowers.

Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa [14th Red]

It was nice to see the beehives between the 13th and 15th fully occupied.  The Whitethroats are also still visible with some patience, skulking in the undergrowth and occasionally popping out to look around.

Whitethroat [13th Red]

Wild Thyme is very evident on the 15th/16th/17th and is very popular with butterflies and other insects.

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina on Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus [17th Red]

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas and Brown Argus Aricia agestis Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus

[17th Red]

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Brown Argus Aricia agestis Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus
[17th Red]

One of the most numerous butterflies at this time of year is the Gatekeeper which can be found all over the estate at the moment.  This one was to the right of the 13th Red.

Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus [13th Red]