Saturday 29 June 2013

BACK TO ORCHIDS
After a very successful tour of Estonia looking at orchids and mammals and a few birds too, it was back to reality, well almost.
Estonia news will follow soon.
Quite surprisingly I found myself doing an orchid tour at this late date. Very successful it was too with 15 species recorded and I could have found another three had I bothered. So 18 at the end of June was unexpected to say the least.
Below are some pictures of what we saw today.
 Late Spider Orchid, notice the difference in colour and pattern.

 Albino Fragrant Orchid. Many of these about this year.

 This diminutive  orchid can be hard to find but this year some were several inches high. A good crop of more than 20 plants were found.
 Spotted Orchid in many shades and shapes
 A very dark Fragrant Orchid
 Spotted Orchid
 Lizard Orchid
Other species found today were Bee, Man, Pyramidal, Lady, Fly (gone over now), Monkey, Greater Butterfly, Twayblade, Broad-leaved Helleborine (just in bud only) and White Helleborine.
Other possibles today could have been Marsh Helleborine (in bud), Southern Marsh and Birds Nest Orchid, had we had more time.
Butterflies included Speckled Wood, Common and Adonis Blue, Painter Lady and Red Admiral, Large White, Ringlet, Large Skipper and Heath Fritillary (about 20).
A fantastic day out.

Thursday 6 June 2013

 
KENT ORCHIDS
 
A  tour of East Kent produced a number of species of orchids. Some examples are shown here. Others seen were Spotted Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid, Lizard Orchid, Broad-leaved Helleborine, White Helleborine, Marsh Helleborine, and Twayblade. Most of these were not yet in flower. Flowering period has been delayed by two to three weeks due to the cold spring, particularly the plants on the coast.
However we had a great day out. The highlight being a magnificent display of Lady Orchids in all variety of colours.
Butterflies seen on the day included Duke of Burgundy Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper, Orange tip, Brimstone, Large and Small White
 
 
 
Greater Butterfly Orchid

 
Lady Orchid


 
Lady Orchid

 
Man Orchid

 
Birds Nest Orchid

 
Monkey Orchid

 
Green-veined Orchid

 
Early Spider

 
Early Purple



Fly Orchid