2013 UK orchids (8 Viewers)

[James Hunter]

3 Lizard orchids in NW Kent today - one in flower, the other 2 in bud

Still lots of Man Orchids scattered around Dartford

Heres an unusual Common Spotted I found yesterday near Maidstone

 

[IJS]

Went to a local site for bee orchids this afternoon and was sad to find that they have been mowed! Found three plants, two still growing and one decapitated. Of the other two one had just one flower left, while the other had a couple of buds. Must have grown up since they mowed the site....ah well.

 

[lizard orchid]

Loads of 'em out at Barnack today apparently

M

Thats good to hear.

Brian Laney.

 

[fgrsimon]

Does anyone have good directions for Lesser Twayblades on Exmoor. I might be in the area this week but I might be too late? PM Me if you can help please.

 

[Rafeabrook]

Hi all,
Does anyone know whereabouts at Hoo Bit (Pegsdon Hills, Chilterns) to look for Fly Orchids?
Planning a quick saunter up there this evening, but won't have a lot of time to traverse the whole site?
A PM would be much appreciated!
Thanks
Rafe

 

[Dylan Edwards]

Went to a local site for bee orchids this afternoon and was sad to find that they have been mowed! Found three plants, two still growing and one decapitated. Of the other two one had just one flower left, while the other had a couple of buds. Must have grown up since they mowed the site....ah well.

That's just terrible .....

 

[hatfullofsky]

Lizard Orchids

Hi everyone,
I'm planning a trip to Kent to see Lizard Orchids, a new species for me. Could anyone advise me on the best place to start my walk? I've done a little research and come up with various venues but am not sure which one would be best to start out at. A pm would be very welcome.
I'm not sure yet but I may stay overnight in which case I might be able to fit in some other species too. If you have recommendations as to which species to see I'd welcome those too.
<keeping my fingers crossed for good weather>
hatfullofsky

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Kent orchids

I'm not sure yet but I may stay overnight in which case I might be able to fit in some other species too. If you have recommendations as to which species to see I'd welcome those too.

Late Spider would be the obvious must for Kent; but Man orchid was also happily flowering there a couple of days ago. I'll leave someone who knows the County better to give you detail on the Lizard orchid.

Martin

 

[James Hunter]

Hi everyone,
I'm planning a trip to Kent to see Lizard Orchids, a new species for me. Could anyone advise me on the best place to start my walk? I've done a little research and come up with various venues but am not sure which one would be best to start out at. A pm would be very welcome.
I'm not sure yet but I may stay overnight in which case I might be able to fit in some other species too. If you have recommendations as to which species to see I'd welcome those too.
<keeping my fingers crossed for good weather>
hatfullofsky

Sandwich Bay estate is by far the best area in Kent for Lizards - they even occur in people's front gardens here and all over the golf course which can be accessed from the bird obs

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Musk orchid

Further to GV's posting of a week or so back, I wonder if there is any sign of Musks flowering in Glos yet?

Martin

 

[lizard orchid]

Steve and Helen,
Thanks for sending the pictures of the disturbance. It seems odd with some of the patches being large. I would have thought if someone was taking the orchids it would be smaller areas disturbed. Still puzzled by it myself.
I know one year the council I think were removing grass overgrowing the tarmac path edges at the top of the bank and they threw the clods onto the bank. Myself and a friend had to remove these grass clods before I could do any brushcutting on the bank. Wondering if this has happened again or someone has been flytipped spent soil.
I did not do any recent management on the site so the recent disturbance is not by me.
Glad to hear some spikes have been found.

Brian Laney.

A friend of mine Libby Houston has been to the Lizard Orchid site at Bristol and sent me pictures and some of the soil disturbance is near the crash barrier. I am more convinced now someone has taken some of the plants.
Thanks to everyone who has sent pictures and informed me. The Hardy Orchid Conservation Officer has now also been contacted over the issue.

Brian Laney.

 

[hatfullofsky]

Lizard Orchids

Thanks James, that's really useful information. I'll start out at the Obs. Is it ok for members of the public to wander over and around the golf course photographing plants - won't the golfers get upset?
Any ideas what else I might look for while I'm out that way?
Thanks again,
hatfullofsky

 

[fgrsimon]

Thanks James, that's really useful information. I'll start out at the Obs. Is it ok for members of the public to wander over and around the golf course photographing plants - won't the golfers get upset?
Any ideas what else I might look for while I'm out that way?
Thanks again,
hatfullofsky

No need to go on the golf courses. There's a road that runs between the beach and golf courses and you can't miss them as they are either side of this road in large numbers.

Watch out for the toll on the road leading to the bird observatory, it's £7.00 I think but if you say you're going to the obesrvatory, it mysteriously becomes a lot less.

Late Spiders at Crete Road W are a must see if you're in the area. Someone here will give you better directions than I can, it's difficult to describe unless you're actually there.... PM Gareth Stamp on here as he is going this week.

 

[fgrsimon]

Further to GV's posting of a week or so back, I wonder if there is any sign of Musks flowering in Glos yet?

Martin

No sign on S----- Hill weekend before last but there were Frogs and Fly's. Last year was the first time Musks had flowered there for 7 years though. I will be checking my other Glos sites next Tuesday when I'm back from Glastonbury.

 

[lizard orchid]

Thanks James, that's really useful information. I'll start out at the Obs. Is it ok for members of the public to wander over and around the golf course photographing plants - won't the golfers get upset?
Any ideas what else I might look for while I'm out that way?
Thanks again,
hatfullofsky

As James mentioned they crop up in the odd front garden. I counted over forty in one of these but that was a few years back. There could well be far more by now. Its quite an impressive site seeing these big orchids dotted across a lawn.

Brian Laney.

 

[lizard orchid]

Single bee orchid in bud near Brogborough in Bedfordshire yesterday.

Brian Laney.

 

[James Hunter]

Thanks James, that's really useful information. I'll start out at the Obs. Is it ok for members of the public to wander over and around the golf course photographing plants - won't the golfers get upset?
Any ideas what else I might look for while I'm out that way?
Thanks again,
hatfullofsky

It's quite expensive to enter the estate but I think if you say you are visiting the bird obs and only parking there it used to be a pound.

Ask at the obs for permission and directions to their trapping area as it is stuffed full of SMO. A s for the golf course just stick to the paths - the plants are everywhere and there is no need to go 'off piste'

 

[Matthebirder]

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

 

[Rafeabrook]

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!

 

[slatts]

We were wondering if anyone would be able to give a location for wasp orchid (O.apifera var. trollii) possibly in Glos., where we also hope to see Musk orchid.

Any help would be appreciated.

Martin

I know a small and reliable site in Warwicks near Stretton On The Fosse if that's any good to you.