2015 UK Orchids (1 Viewer)

[muba]

This offer is very much appreciated here. We are unable to come this weekend but are hoping that we might be able to divert to Sandscale next Friday from a trip to Northumbria. Noting Ghostly Vision's earlier comments about the relatively brief flowering period, do you think it likely that the plants would still be flowering in good numbers in a week's time or would they be past their best?

Same here. Any information or help greatly appreciated.

 

[JCL]

At Gait Barrows on Friday, a fair number of Lady Slipper in fine flower - but much fewer than last year per the warden. One Northern Marsh in flower, and two budding. A couple of dark-red helleborines sprouting in the grykes, but (understandably a way off flowering yet). Also white-spotted sable, for those who like day-flying moths. Earlier, Josh J was at Sandscale when the coralroot count topped 1700. Traffic stopped me joining him!

James

 

[James Hunter]

Late Spider orchid in flower today - 16 plants

Early Spider still out at Samphire Hoe

Monkey spot on at Parkgate down ( mostly in compartment 2 ), with 5 in bud Greater Butterflies in the third compartment with a single Fly orchid

51 Lizard orchids in bud on a roadside nature reserve near Maidstone ( only had 2 plants here 2 years ago!!! )

Hothfield common - mostly leaves only for the Heath Spotted orchids

Green-Winged Orchids still hanging on at Marden meadow

15 species today

Regards

James

 

[Ghostly Vision]

The Coralroots at Sandscale are pretty awesome, it has to be said. We didn't make a count, as there were points where we literally had to check where we put our feet for fear of treading on them.

Two slacks about half an hours' walk from the car park have almost all of the plants. When you are in them, you cannot miss them!

There are a lot in bud and just emerging, so a visit next weekend will still produce some stunners, but if it is photographs you are after, you will have to search for decent specimens much beyond then.

Three pics form today, the third demonstrating the actual size of the flowers.

 

[Allewes]

The Coralroots at Sandscale are pretty awesome, it has to be said. We didn't make a count, as there were points where we literally had to check where we put our feet for fear of treading on them.

Two slacks about half an hours' walk from the car park have almost all of the plants. When you are in them, you cannot miss them!

There are a lot in bud and just emerging, so a visit next weekend will still produce some stunners, but if it is photographs you are after, you will have to search for decent specimens much beyond then.

Three pics form today, the third demonstrating the actual size of the flowers.

Spectacular photos - thanks for sharing these northern beauties

Sussex still pretty mixed up timing wise At Wolstunbury, Greater Butterly still ten days away from full flowering but there are a few fly, masses of twayblade, some white helleborine in bud, first common spotted out shortly and last few early purples hanging on

 

[SandscaleHaws Ranger]

This offer is very much appreciated here. We are unable to come this weekend but are hoping that we might be able to divert to Sandscale next Friday from a trip to Northumbria. Noting Ghostly Vision's earlier comments about the relatively brief flowering period, do you think it likely that the plants would still be flowering in good numbers in a week's time or would they be past their best?

Hi Bodhyfryd,

Yes the Coralroots should still be in flower on Friday for the most part. We're hosting a BioBlitz event on Friday 5th as well so we might be a bit busy but if any of us are free when you arrive we'll be more than happy to take you out to see them. If no ones in the rangers yard (on the right just before the car park) give me a call on my mobile that I listed before and I'll come and meet you.

Jamie

 

[SandscaleHaws Ranger]

Same here. Any information or help greatly appreciated.

Hi Muba,
As I've said to Bodhyfryd the Coralroots should still be in flower for the next week or so. Beyond that they probably won't be at their best. We'll be on site all this week apart from Sunday as we have a BioBlitz event Friday and Saturday. If we're free when you arrive we'll be more than happy to take you out to see them or give you directions to them if we're not. If you come Friday or Saturday there will probably be a tent set up on the beach for the BioBlitz which should be manned constantly so just come find us there if we're not in the rangers yard.

Jamie

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Any news on Coralroots at Ainsdale? or, indeed, anywhere nearer to Hampshire than Sandscale! Nice though Sandscale Haws NNR is, it's a very long way from here!

So is Ainsdale! I wasn't aware there were any there?

Sean

 

[muba]

An update from a brief visit to Alyn Waters this morning.
The Bee Orchids are on their way, but possibly 10-14 days before they are in flower. The first of the Twayblades are just flowering. The Common Spotted were quite noticable, possibly because the other vegetation hasn't got going yet. They are throwing up flower spikes. Green-flowered Helleborines are just ahead of the Dune Helleborines, the latter with flower spikes just reaching ground level at best.

 

[muba]

I returned to the Denbighshire Frog Orchid site (thankfully just before the rain) to see if the larger plants from 10 days ago were open. Yes they were and they measured 20-22 cm tall. But we found a group under a hedge on the opposite side of the track to the quarry, composed of many large examples. The tallest was a full 30 cm. What is more, these also grew in clumps suggesting vegetative reproduction, which is said to be unusual in this species.
The Twayblades here were starting to open.

 

[Simon1953]

So is Ainsdale! I wasn't aware there were any there?

Sean

Sean, I may be confused! I had an idea they were at Ainsdale - but maybe I'm thinking of something else growing there. And, yes I agree, Ainsdale is also a long way from Hampshire. Ah well, maybe I'll just stick to southern orchids this year.

 

[muba]

Sean, I may be confused! I had an idea they were at Ainsdale - but maybe I'm thinking of something else growing there. And, yes I agree, Ainsdale is also a long way from Hampshire. Ah well, maybe I'll just stick to southern orchids this year.

I have been to Ainsdale but never seen or come across mention of Coralroots there. Dune and Green-flowered Helleborines are the local specialities there.

 

[Gravyboy]

Did a trip through Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire yesterday.
First bee orchid in flower at flybee site with a pyramidal opening a few florets. Site looking rather trampled, still some flybees in flower, but several snapped off. Couldn't see any fly orchids, although only looked from the roadside.
Sheep (freshly shorn, so extra hungry in the wet weather) are now on Parsonage Down and have eaten off many burnt orchids but left a few frogs (perhaps frogs taste more bitter, or may just be less obvious). There are however still a few burnt there, and the grass is starting to get a bit long, so although a shame for this year, is probably for the best in the long run.
Intriguingly, the ochroleuca fly seems to have orange-brown pigment around the periphery of the flies on all 3 flower spikes, although this is quite subtle on the third spike. Can they revert over a number of years to normal fly?
At same site, first floret on common fragrant open; a scattering of common spotted in flower; tons of common twayblade and a few early purple hanging on.
Sword-leaved helleborine still in fine form at Chappetts Copse, although a few florets starting to brown now on some plants, white helleborine flowering well, main hybrid excellent, bird's-nest good, although fly looking a bit trampled.
14 species, 2 variants and 2 hybrids not bad for the day

 

[Delia]

Anyone know how the man orchids at Barnack are doing? I have not been to this site before so any useful info appreciated.
Many thanks.

 

[leptochila]

I returned to the Denbighshire Frog Orchid site (thankfully just before the rain) to see if the larger plants from 10 days ago were open. Yes they were and they measured 20-22 cm tall. But we found a group under a hedge on the opposite side of the track to the quarry, composed of many large examples. The tallest was a full 30 cm. What is more, these also grew in clumps suggesting vegetative reproduction, which is said to be unusual in this species.
The Twayblades here were starting to open.

Thanks for the update Steve.
When that multi stemmer is fully out, I'm gonna come back from London for it. Did you see my post a couple of weeks ago with a photo of that plant? Post #203. I found out about it last year online when it was photographed by the BSBI officer for Wales whilst they were looking for Pseudorchis. Here's the blog (scroll down to the bottom photo to see it in full glory):

http://bsbicymru.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/more-orchid-hunting-in-merionethshire.html

Mike

 

[snlw]

Hello all,

If anyone is coming up to Sandscale Haws tomorrow (30th) to see the Coralroot orchids neither of us rangers will be working and unfortunately we don't currently have a visitor centre. However I'll be in the area for most of the day so give me a call on my work mobile 07483177988 and I'll be more than happy to come in and show you where they are. As it's such a big site and they are found a fair walk from the car park I'd advise not walking around trying to find them as it could take several hours if you're not very familiar with the site and where exactly they're found.

Jamie (Sandscale Ranger)

Thanks to Jamie for showing me around today. Happy that we missed the rain!
Also popped into Gait Barrows on the way home for the Lady's Slippers which were looking great.

Cheers, Simon

 

[slatts]

Southern Marsh orchids in SW London

Yesterday I went for a walk at the London Wetland site in Barnes. It's the first time I have been at this time of the year - normally it's a stopover for winter bird visitors and I go then. Walking along the South Route there are hundreds of Southern Marsh Orchids mostly just starting to flower, but there are already many in flower and some extremely tall plants, and some large groups. I didn't even know they were here so it was a great and pleasant surprise to know that this colony exists only a few miles from where I live. There is a smaller colony of SMO in the same stage of flowering in Kew Gardens too.

 

[leptochila]

Yesterday I went for a walk at the London Wetland site in Barnes. It's the first time I have been at this time of the year - normally it's a stopover for winter bird visitors and I go then. Walking along the South Route there are hundreds of Southern Marsh Orchids mostly just starting to flower, but there are already many in flower and some extremely tall plants, and some large groups. I didn't even know they were here so it was a great and pleasant surprise to know that this colony exists only a few miles from where I live. There is a smaller colony of SMO in the same stage of flowering in Kew Gardens too.

I now live in West Kensington so this is really close to me too! Must make a visit one of the weekends. Does Bee orchid occur there too?

Mike

 

[steveC2]

Anyone know how the man orchids at Barnack are doing? I have not been to this site before so any useful info appreciated.
Many thanks.

A count on Saturday reached over 400 Man Orchids. Not bad given that the first time I visited it was difficult to find any, but not as good as I am told it used to be.
First fragrant opening.
Has also been a good year here for Early Purple.

 

[muba]

Thanks for the update Steve.
When that multi stemmer is fully out, I'm gonna come back from London for it. Did you see my post a couple of weeks ago with a photo of that plant? Post #203. I found out about it last year online when it was photographed by the BSBI officer for Wales whilst they were looking for Pseudorchis. Here's the blog (scroll down to the bottom photo to see it in full glory):

http://bsbicymru.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/more-orchid-hunting-in-merionethshire.html

Mike

Sounds and looks like the same multi-stemmer. And it has the long bracts seen elsewhere at the same site. Quite a monster!