Chiltern Orchids

Saturday 19th May 2018

Monkey Orchid

On royal wedding day, I left Mrs M watching the telly and headed off east for the day. My first stop was Hartslock near Goring-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. The Monkey Orchids were looking fantastic, and I counted getting on for 20. The single Lady Orchid was past its prime, but two or three flowers recalled its full beauty. The most numerous by far are the Lady x Monkey hybrids, tall vigorous plants numbering around a hundred give or take. Some of the Pasqueflowers  were still in flower, some still in bud even - I was expecting them to have all gone to seed by now. Butterflies on the wing included Grizzled Skippers, Dingy Skippers, Green Hairstreakes, Orange-tips, Green-veined Whites, Small Whites and Brimstones. Also a Common Carpet moth. This is a beautiful reserve, affording wonderful views of the Thames and surrounding landscape. I also stumbled across George Michael's house in the village, complete with a plethora of tributes. I wonder if George was aware of the floral jewel on his doorstep? Ironically, a sign on the door asks for no floral tributes on the doorstep.
Monkey Orchid, Hartslock

Monkey Orchid, Hartslock

 Monkey Orchid, Hartslock

Lady Orchid, Hartslock

Lady x Monkey hybrid, Hartslock

Lady x Monkey hybrid, Hartslock

Lady x Monkey hybrid, Hartslock

Pasqueflower, Hartslock

Grizzled Skipper, Hartslock

Green Hairstreak, Hartslock


Common Carpet, Hartslock

Hartslock

Mill Cottage, Goring, home of the late George Michael

It was then on to the Homefield Wood reserve near Marlow in Buckinghamshire. Here, the Military Orchids, were looking superb. Numbering around 30, these delicately-coloured robust orchids seem to be doing well. Virtually the whole time I was there, I was the only soul enjoying this peaceful spot. A single Fly Orchid was near the boundary above the soldiers, and numerous Common Twayblade was starting to flower. In the nearby Beech wood there were many more Fly Orchids in flower, and also several White Helleborines just starting to flower. A Reeve's Muntjac was deeper in the woods. I saw my first Common Blues of the year, and a Burnet Companion was near the reserve entrance.

Military Orchid, Homefield Wood

Military Orchid, Homefield Wood

Military Orchid, Homefield Wood

Burnet Companion, Homefield Wood

The meadow at Homefield Wood

Common Twayblade, Homefield Wood

Fly Orchid, Homefield Wood

Fly Orchid, Homefield Wood

White Helleborine, Homefield Wood

White Helleborine, Homefield Wood

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gran Canaria

Image
Saturday 1st - Saturday 8th October 2016 Hoopoe - Maspalomas A week in the hot sunshine of Gran Canaria at the start of October produced some good birds despite this island not getting much representation in the available range of published bird guides. This isn't surprising since it doesn't hold any populations of the endemic Canary pigeon species which can be found on Tenerife and La Gomera, and Blue Chaffich is much easier to find on Tenerife; next to impossible on Gran Canaria.  Based in Maspalomas at the southern tip of the island, my birding was incidental, or confined to the occasional short solo exploration on foot, in between simply being on holiday. A brackish lagoon, La Charca, stretches behind the beach at Maspalomas, cut off the sea by the beach, and with the dunes along one side. La Charca was always interesting to visit and turned up some good birds. The highlights included (no particular order): Canary Island Chiffchaff - common and vocal virtually ever
Read more

Cotswold Orchids and a Garden Hobby

Image
Monday 7th - Tuesday 15th May 2018 Sword-leaved Helleborine, Cephalanthera longifolia Recently I have caught up with Fly Orchids and Sword-leaved Helleborines in the Cotswolds, the latter being a threatened and particularly scarce species in the UK. I have only previously seen Sword-leaved Helleborine, also known as Narrow-leaved Helleborine, in Switzerland, where it more common. Fly Orchid, a close relative of the Bee Orchid, are more widespread but with a localised distribution and not one I have seen before. Both are exquisitely beautiful and very special plants. Fly Orchid, Ophrys insectifera       On 7th I had a Hobby fly over the garden and managed a couple of hurried record shots of this garden tick. A Coal Tit was a surprise garden visitor on 15th as I haven't seen one in the garden since the early spring. Flyover garden Hobby, 7th May Coal Tit, garden, 15th May
Read more

Todd's Canada Goose

Image
Saturday 16th January 2010 The Canada Goose showing characteristics of the race Branta canadensis interior , commonly known as Todd's Canada Goose , was in the Rushy Pen at Slimbridge WWT this morning (photos in poor light above and below) , before flying off with other Canada's at 9:40am. This is a very interesting bird, showing several features which together set it apart from its feral counterparts. My observations of the differences are: it is slightly smaller with a more slender neck; shorter bill; narrower white cheek patch; the black on the chin is linked to the black of the neck; at the bottom of the neck at the back, the black joins the brown of the mantle, with no white in between; the pale fringing on the scapulars etc. is much less distinct; the tertials are more contrastingly paler, giving the effect of a pale wing panel; it has a pale eye-ring; and if these features don't help - it has a limp! Other sightings this morning included: Sharpness Docks A female/imm
Read more