2013 UK orchids (1 Viewer)

[hatfullofsky]

Lizard Orchid - thank you

I just wanted to thank everyone for the information they posted re: my lizard orchid question.
Bodhyfryd I didn't notice your reply until today - thanks for that info on the Late Spider Orchid, and you too fgrsimon. I'll pm Gareth and see if he can provide further details.
I must say the descriptions you give of Lizard Orchids being everywhere (including front lawns) have really whetted my appetite. I can't wait to see them for myself.
hatfullofsky

 

[Phil Bishop]

Thanks to a PM from Phil Bishop, I was able to locate the extremely difficult to spot Fly Orchid's at Hoo Bit last night. Having never seen them before I was taken aback at how small and fragile they appeared. Light was fading badly as it was 8pm so had to crank the ISO up to 3200 to get this shot! Plenty of Common Spotted's all around and I would day there were dozen's of Fly's there had I taken time to do an official count. A wonderful location and hundreds of White Helleborine's in the woodland as you approach the reserve. PM me for more precise location details.
Also below, shot of the Bee Orchid's I found at Ramney Marsh last week, the Fragrant I shot over a week ago at Barton Hills (that allegedly must be early this year!), a cracking spike of Common Spotted at the same location, and finally a well stacked White Helleborine on the Icknield Way at Hoo Bit shot in VERY dark woodland!

Good to hear you found them. I must get up there again soon

 

[Dylan Edwards]

Fen Orchids

A very successful day at Kenfig Reserve were I managed to find 2 Fen orchids...I believe there are 8 ( 4 in flower ) at present


Like to thank Gareth for his help ....( It really is a BIG site for sure !!! )



Please see image here .....http://www.flickr.com/photos/dylanedwards/9136123701/

 

[midlands birder]

One of the commoner Orchids, but found 521 Common Spotted Orchid in a local Woodland in the west midlands and it was only a small area!
MB

 

[leptochila]

One of the commoner Orchids, but found 521 Common Spotted Orchid in a local Woodland in the west midlands and it was only a small area!
MB

Whayyy! The midlands! Where was that then? Only a general area if you don't want to give the woodland name.

Mike

 

[Wood Nymph]

A visit to mid Wales yesterday produced small-white orchids in prime condition, along with the biggest number of heath spotted orchids I have ever seen, absolutely beautiful place! Small pearl bordered fritillarys were an added bonus too. A trip to Kenfig afterwards where I managed to find five Fen orchids, some of which looked a bit eaten while others were still in bud. Took me absolutely agessss to find!

 

[leptochila]

A visit to mid Wales yesterday produced small-white orchids in prime condition, along with the biggest number of heath spotted orchids I have ever seen, absolutely beautiful place! Small pearl bordered fritillarys were an added bonus too. A trip to Kenfig afterwards where I managed to find five Fen orchids, some of which looked a bit eaten while others were still in bud. Took me absolutely agessss to find!

Nice pics Steff!

 

[leptochila]

Lesser Twayblades

My afternoon scramble up a mountain track in the corsa was rewarded with a scattered population of Lesser Twayblades on the high moorlands above Cwmystwyth (Mid-Wales). Mostly past their best. One had impressively sized leaves - far larger than I've seen before.

Mike

 

[Wood Nymph]

Nice pics Steff!

Cheers man! Also, nice Lesser tways, can't believe they're still out now - beware as I will no doubt be coming to you for directions for these next year!

 

[leptochila]

Cheers man! Also, nice Lesser tways, can't believe they're still out now - beware as I will no doubt be coming to you for directions for these next year!

No problem though I'll send you to a different spot - these were far to remote for directions.

Mike

 

[dippers]

Hi all, just found this site and thread and like everyone else here I'm keen to combine my hobbies of photography and flora (specifically orchids). I have read the last few pages of this thread and can't see much activity around Herts/Beds where I live. I am aware of White Helleborine's at Thurfield and have heard of Burnt Orchids at Knocking Hoe. Does anyone know if the Burnts at Knocking Hoe (Chilterns) are the early or later flowering variety as I went up there 2 weeks ago and couldn't find anything, despite a few late Pasque Flowers clinging on gamely? Appreciate the sensitivity around disclosing too specific site information on a public forum, but if anyone would be willing to share through PM or on here any other Herts/Beds sites currently 'baring fruits' I would be much appreciative! Thanks, Rafe

Hi Rafe, I went up there last week on 19th and the burnt tips were in flower. If you PM me at [email protected] I'll give more detail.
Kind regards, Martin

 

[Bodhyfryd]

I don't know whether anyone else has seen this from the Kenfig NNR web site. I hope that I am not breaching copyright by copying it here as a posting. But it is a very sorry story, and perhaps sheds a little light on some of the experiences of the last couple of years. It is especially alarming when one considers that the Reserve holds a particular rarity in the Fen orchid.

20 June 2013 - Kenfig NNR is in complete upheaval
Background
There are concerns at present over the future of Kenfig NNR. The site is leased to Bridgend County Borough Council by the Kenfig Corporation Trust who manage it on their behalf; BCBC apparently are also tied into a management agreement with the CCW (Countyside Council for Wales - from 01 April 2013 Natural Resources Wales took over the functions formally carried out by the CCW), this agreement apparently specifies how the site should be managed during the timescale of the lease agreement.
Natural Resources Wales is the Welsh Assembly controlled governing body who are responsible for overseeing the management of all SSSI sites within Wales - some areas of Kenfig have also been designated as SAC (Special Area of Conservation), the highest possible designation for protection.

Present Situation at the Reserve
BCBC have closed the reserve centre building and have cut staffing levels back to a single member of staff. As a direct result of these measures the reserve has now fallen into disrepair.

The Bonaventure Bird Hide
The Bonadventure Bird Hide has been completely desecrated by vandals... the boardwalk leading to this hide is overgrown & completely unmaintained. There's litter everywhere with empty cans of alcohol etc., all over the place. It is believed the reserve is to be handed back to the Kenfig Corporation Trust later this year.

The Future of Kenfig Nature Reserve
This website project is responsible for documenting the history of Kenfig & its surrounding areas. We are saddened to learn of current events at Kenrig NNR and hope a solution to the problems can be made in the not too distant future, vandalism & total disregard for the area has already materialised with the absence of management and staff to the reserve. We aim to update this webpage with further information regarding the reserve once any becomes available.

I don't know that there is anything which any of us can "do" about this situation, but I thought that it might be worthwhile drawing your attention to it, especially if you plan a visit to Kenfig.

Martin

 

[Matthebirder]

Kenfig. I'm not surprised by this, went there a few years ago to look for Fen Orchids and wasn't made very welcome, excuses of no access , no idea of where they are etc etc. gave up asking and searched around in vain, if you don't promote such valuable assets then this is what happens. Not much sympathy I'm afraid.

 

[prhodes]

Thanks to a PM from Phil Bishop, I was able to locate the extremely difficult to spot Fly Orchid's at Hoo Bit last night. Having never seen them before I was taken aback at how small and fragile they appeared. Light was fading badly as it was 8pm so had to crank the ISO up to 3200 to get this shot! Plenty of Common Spotted's all around and I would day there were dozen's of Fly's there had I taken time to do an official count. A wonderful location and hundreds of White Helleborine's in the woodland as you approach the reserve. PM me for more precise location details.
Also below, shot of the Bee Orchid's I found at Ramney Marsh last week, the Fragrant I shot over a week ago at Barton Hills (that allegedly must be early this year!), a cracking spike of Common Spotted at the same location, and finally a well stacked White Helleborine on the Icknield Way at Hoo Bit shot in VERY dark woodland!

Hi Rafe,

Thanks for accurate directions. Had no trouble locating the target species this evening. Both very nice places.

Thanks again, Phil

 

[Wood Nymph]

Kenfig. I'm not surprised by this, went there a few years ago to look for Fen Orchids and wasn't made very welcome, excuses of no access , no idea of where they are etc etc. gave up asking and searched around in vain, if you don't promote such valuable assets then this is what happens. Not much sympathy I'm afraid.

I agree! It could be such a great place, and they really should promote the Fen orchids more seeing as they're so rare and all. I rang up about three times before I visited, and wasn't given much help or guidance at all really, one guy I spoke to really didn't seem at all interested.

 

[Dylan Edwards]

Regarding Kenfig ....When i mentioned to the Warden that i had found the Fens and that maybe it would be a good idea to mark them out to stop them being trampling ( unknowingly obliviously ..) and he just wasn't at all interested .


A shame and in fact i worry about the future of the Fen orchid at Kenfig unless some serious work and effort is made ...

 

[Wood Nymph]

Regarding Kenfig ....When i mentioned to the Warden that i had found the Fens and that maybe it would be a good idea to mark them out to stop them being trampling ( unknowingly obliviously ..) and he just wasn't at all interested .


A shame and in fact i worry about the future of the Fen orchid at Kenfig unless some serious work and effort is made ...

Exactly the impression I got - the guy just wasn't interested in the slightest. In terms of most other places I've been to in order to find orchids everyone I've spoken to has always been so enthusiastic and willing to help. It really is a shame about Kenfig, apparently there used to be over 10,000 there and now there's just a handful.

 

[Gravyboy]

Has anyone any checked condition of Red Helleborines in Gloucestershire yet? I would appreciate any positive or negative news please. I must try this year. Private message if you prefer.
Thanks
Matthew

Drove by a few days ago. Enclosure quite overgrown. Plants still a way off flowering. Bird's-nest, common twayblade and white helleborine still flowering well at nearby site. No musks seen, but didn't look too hard.

 

[ionh]

Tyro ID question

I'm a little embarrassed to say so, especially in this company, but i struggle to sort out my marsh orchids; i'm hoping that someone might give me a steer on these photos, taken a couple of days ago at a local Herts site. I'm thinking the first two (same plant) must be Southern Marsh, but do the "Hands Up!" sepals and folded-back lip of the third indicate an Early Marsh?

Bonus question: anyone identify the flies?!

 

[lizard orchid]

A few weeks ago I was talking to the Warwickshire county recorders for wild flowers and we decided that the Warwickshire Man orchids status as being introduced is to be dropped. I cannot see any evidence for them to be introduced to the site even though they were discovered around 1968/69. They have just found the site to their liking. Also I have seen Man orchid in a number of quarries similar to the Warks site across its range in the UK such as Essex and Cambs.

Brian Laney.