2014 UK Orchids (2 Viewers)

[Ragwort]

Bee Orchids

No Bee Orchids visible, to my dull eyes anyway, on The Doward, but four with their lowermost flowers open, below the A40 a couple of miles away. Also, unexpectedly, a Southern Marsh, and plenty of banded demoiselles for company. Pyramidals some way off flowering.

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Hi Martin,
There seems to be a minor rush on at Sandscale! I was there today, again with helpful directions from the warden, and saw two groups of plants, one of which was the same as those you have posted. Do you mind if I use your photos for my notes as they're so much better than the ones I took!
Cheers,
Roger

That's absolutely fine, Roger. Please feel free to PM if you would like Elaine to supply a larger file for the photos.

Martin

 

[Chris Hind]

No Bee Orchids visible, to my dull eyes anyway, on The Doward, but four with their lowermost flowers open, below the A40 a couple of miles away. Also, unexpectedly, a Southern Marsh, and plenty of banded demoiselles for company. Pyramidals some way off flowering.

Pyramidal in flower at Maryport Cumbria today - so surprised that this was ahead of the ones mentioned in the south. Lots of Northern Marsh and some Common Spotted there also.

At Gowk Bank in Cumbria large numbers of Heath Spotted and Northern Marsh today.

A single Heath Spotted Var. leucantha was a surprise at Longtown Cumbria yesterday (where I had gone to look for Little Gulls) as it was the only orchid plant I saw.

Chris

 

[LizandDave]

Thanks Simon,
The orchids themselves don't make it easy do they!
Dave

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Fen orchid (Norfolk)

We were able to see the Norfolk fen orchids on Monday with the help of one of the wardens.They (and their habitat - very wet!) made an interesting comparison with the Kenfig plants which we saw last year.

We saw some dozen or more plants in flower in the particular area visited. Others were still to flower.

Martin and Elaine

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Does anyone have an update on the flowering status of the Newmarket Lizards?

Martin

 

[Benjamin Ofield]

Does anyone know how I can find out about the Fen orchids at Kenfig, can someone help with a location where they are. I was told the warden is not really bothered about the Fens so there's no point in ringing him, no idea if that's true. I only have a 2 or 3 hours next weekend to try find them, any help would be appreciated.

 

[Bodhyfryd]

Does anyone know how I can find out about the Fen orchids at Kenfig, can someone help with a location where they are. I was told the warden is not really bothered about the Fens so there's no point in ringing him, no idea if that's true. I only have a 2 or 3 hours next weekend to try find them, any help would be appreciated.

The only details I have are relating to last season, and of course there is no guarantee that things will be the same this year. If you care to PM me, I will happily fill you in. But there may be people on this forum who live more locally or who have visited this year and could give you more up-to-date information.

Martin

 

[podargus]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering whether anyone could give me some directions to help track down Lesser Butterfly Orchid on the Isle of Purbeck? I know the site well, and for the previous 2 summers I've covered a large portion of it looking for this species without success!
Thanks for any help you can offer!

 

[slatts]

Ettington was the site I was going to tell you about. there is a good wasp site nearby. Don't know the Kidderminster area at all sorry.

I know of a few sites in Warks, Fenny Compton, Ettington and Bishops Hill? But if you know of any nearer to Kidderminster it may be worth me stopping by.

Any details would be a great help then when I'm about I can remember to stop off.

Many thanks, Pete

 

[James K]

Does anyone know how I can find out about the Fen orchids at Kenfig, can someone help with a location where they are. I was told the warden is not really bothered about the Fens so there's no point in ringing him, no idea if that's true. I only have a 2 or 3 hours next weekend to try find them, any help would be appreciated.

I’m also thinking of trying for the Fen Orchids at Kenfig sometime next week so any news or tips would be greatly appreciated. I've never visited the site before and I get the impression that it’s pretty big area to check!

In other news, Northern Marsh Orchids and hybrids are coming up nicely around Teesside. I didn't get a chance to check the site for var. atrata yesterday but I expect it will be at least a week before peak flowering.

James

 

[Chris Hind]

At Waitby Greenriggs today - Lesser Butterfly Orchids 10+ , Fly Orchids 15+
The Small Whites at Little Asby (4) were in nice condition.

There was a single paler N Marsh O at Waitby with heavily spotted leaves which I took to be cambrensis -




Also at Tarn Sike there was a similarly paler N M O but with unspotted leaves - I didn't know what to make of this.
I would be grateful for any views on this.


Chris

 

[rmielcarek]

At Waitby Greenriggs today - Lesser Butterfly Orchids 10+ , Fly Orchids 15+
The Small Whites at Little Asby (4) were in nice condition.

There was a single paler N Marsh O at Waitby with heavily spotted leaves which I took to be cambrensis -




Also at Tarn Sike there was a similarly paler N M O but with unspotted leaves - I didn't know what to make of this.
I would be grateful for any views on this.View attachment 500034

View attachment 500035
Chris

Hi Chris

for the photos embedded in your post, presumably the Waitby plant, have you considered a hybrid with Common Spotted? The loops on the lip are suggestive of that origin.

For the Tarn Sike plant, what about the hybrid with incarnata Early Marsh?

Rich M

 

[Chris Hind]

Hi Chris

for the photos embedded in your post, presumably the Waitby plant, have you considered a hybrid with Common Spotted? The loops on the lip are suggestive of that origin.

For the Tarn Sike plant, what about the hybrid with incarnata Early Marsh?

Rich M

Hi Rich
Thanks for that. I photographed a presumed NMO x CS some years ago - the lip was much more lobed and the plant was huge (attached thumbnail). I guess we cannot assume that any cross is an F1 but may contain a genetic mix of any proportions giving a wide range of phenotypes.
For the Tarn Sike plant, there were some Early Marsh nearby - so that seems a plausible theory.

Chris

 

[leptochila]

Ynyslas Dunes (Mid Wales)

Early Marsh and Northern Marsh (var. cambrensis) in full flower, maybe a little off the peak for the former. Still very low numbers of both compared to historical counts mostly due to the persistent slack flooding over the last two winters. One slack close to the beach I visited today had clearly been subject to a storm surge and the entire population of marsh orchids and Marsh Helleborines (thousands of both) have been wiped out during the winter storms. Not a single rosette in sight! However, in the higher Marram-covered dunes surrounding it I counted 55 Bee orchids in excellent condition where last year I saw 2 little ropey ones so a very good year for them here. Pyramidals still some way off. Only the odd one in flower. Apart from the aforementioned, all slacks were literally carpeted with Marsh Helleborine rosettes and I can only assume they are really thriving with the inundation.

Mike

 

[muba]

Early Marsh and Northern Marsh (var. cambrensis) in full flower, maybe a little off the peak for the former. Still very low numbers of both compared to historical counts mostly due to the persistent slack flooding over the last two winters. One slack close to the beach I visited today had clearly been subject to a storm surge and the entire population of marsh orchids and Marsh Helleborines (thousands of both) have been wiped out during the winter storms. Not a single rosette in sight! However, in the higher Marram-covered dunes surrounding it I counted 55 Bee orchids in excellent condition where last year I saw 2 little ropey ones so a very good year for them here. Pyramidals still some way off. Only the odd one in flower. Apart from the aforementioned, all slacks were literally carpeted with Marsh Helleborine rosettes and I can only assume they are really thriving with the inundation.

Mike

This sounds like a continuation of what I noticed last year at Ynys Las, a decline of orchid numbers compared to previously. Quite disappointing.
I posted a few days (post #330) ago with the same impression I had at Newborough; perhaps an even bigger decline. I dug out some pictures from Newborough in 2007 and the difference is very marked. Weather is an obvious culprit, but it could be part of the natural cycle of things.

 

[rmielcarek]

Hi Rich
Thanks for that. I photographed a presumed NMO x CS some years ago - the lip was much more lobed and the plant was huge (attached thumbnail). I guess we cannot assume that any cross is an F1 but may contain a genetic mix of any proportions giving a wide range of phenotypes.

Chris

Not the most obvious specimen I agree Chris but I recall there were quite a few there when we visited last year, and they are pretty variable.

Rich M

 

[lizard orchid]

My friend Chris Hazell has reported and sent me a pic of the developing Lizard orchid spike from Oxon. Sadly it will not flower this year due to been trodden on.
Chris was not happy I can tell you.

Brian Laney.

 

[lizard orchid]

I am taking the Warwickshire Flora Group to Devils Dyke near the end of June as leading a meeting for them. Just hoping the odd Lizard orchid will still be in flower.

Brian Laney.

 

[ionh]

Rickmansworth Orchid

Possibly the weediest common spot on record, but it's a first from a new site in Hertfordshire (my back garden!)