Month: May 2014

After reviewing my last set of orchid shots from Hartslock, I thought I’d return one evening when there was a bit more light about.

Here are todays crop of images.

Tonight I paid a visit to the Homefield Wood reserve in Buckinghamshire to have a look at the Military Orchids (Orchis militaris), Birdsnest Orchids (Neottia nidus-avis) and  Fly Orchids (Ophrys insectifera).

There was a really good show of Military Orchids, but they need about another week before they’re fully out in flower.  Regrettably I couldn’t find any Fly Orchids, but I did find several examples of the Birdsnest Orchid.

There was also a very obliging Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) which allowed me to take loads of photographs.

Here are the best of the bunch.

As I was working in Reading today, I thought I’d take the opportunity to get an early start and head over the border to Oxfordshire to visit the the Hartslock reserve near Streatley. This reserve is what reignited my interest in orchids after I stumbled on a Lady Orchid somewhat unexpectedly.

I was slightly disappointed as there are very few Monkey Orchids (Orchis simia) out at Hartslock, but there are loads of the Lady x Monkey Hybrids (Orchis x angusticruris) out.

I’ve posted some of my images here.

Today, a friend and I visited Durlston Country Park and Dancing Ledge to hunt out the Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes).  We were due to visit last week, but the weather forecast was so dire that we gave it a miss.  Most of the orchids were past their best, and there weren’t as many as I remember from previous visits, but we managed to find some nice ones anyway.