28th May - Alver Valley Country Park

On Tuesday, after I bowed out due to the heat, Ian dropped into the Alver Valley and the area known as Sandhill.  He reported back on finding numerous Bee Orchids and a single Lizard Orchid.  So I decided to visit today, early morning before the heat built up once again.  Ian had provided me with plenty of detail on how to find the location and a short video, I felt that I already knew where to go.  As I approached the area I used the WhatThreeWords Ian had provided, but before I could reach his spot I found a single Bee Orchid.

And a nice close up.

I carried on to the spot and found a lot of Bee Orchids in the grass.  One of the best know and loved of our Orchids here in the UK, it resembles a fat furry bumblebee perched on a stalk.  Here several plants together, the only time I have seen this with this species was at Dancing Ledge in Dorset.  That year there were many in a field, then the years after nothing.  Last year was not a good year for Orchids and I only managed to find one, so this is quite amazing.

The three large pink sepals contrast with the velvety maroon, pouch like lip which is decorated with yellow markings and forms the body of the bee.  The two side lobes are particularly hairy and resemble the bee's knees.  The slender greenish or pinkish brown petals form the bee's antennae.  Bee Orchids can vary in colour, shape and markings.  The flowers have evolved to attract male bees as pollinators, by luring them into mate.  However almost all the plants are self pollinated.  Soon after the flower opens the anther releases the pollinia which dangle like little balls on the ends of their flexible stalks to be blown by the breeze on to the stigma.

Having found the Bee Orchids I decided to look for the Lizard Orchid, again I had directions and I knew where it may be.  As I left the Bee Orchids I came across a single Pyramidal Orchid just beginning to flower.

It didn't take long to find the single Lizard Orchid.  It isn't fully out yet with plenty more flowers to open at the top.

The Lizard Orchid is the largest of the "mimic" species in Hampshire.  It is a large plant with tall spikes of straggly greyish green flowers which resemble a maypole in action.  On closer inspection each individual flower has the appearance of a lizard with the three-lobed lip resembling the long tail and hind legs.  The palle flowers are streaked or rimmed with brownish purple. 

The stem has large leaves that wither when the plant is in flower giving a dirt appearance.  Lizard Orchids are long lived and can live for up to nineteen years.

The Lizard Orchid is pollinated by insects, primarily bees.  The flower has a rather foul smell, which is said to resemble the smell of goats.

I spent time talking to some other people who had turned up and as we chatted a male Ketrel hunted overhead.

I went back to the Bee Orchids and walked around the wider area and found a lot more orchids.  Most of the stalks having at least four flowers maybe more with several still looking to emerge.

It is not that clear here, but there are quite a few Bee Orchids in this patch, close inspection needed.  The area was formerly a quarried area which was then later used to dispose of household waste.  It was then clay capped and is now predominately grassland.  The Bee Orchid is an adaptable grassland species and can be found in well drained grassland, disused gravel pits and roadside verges.

It was wonderful to see so many in this spot.

Five flowers here on a spike with at least another tree to emerge.

There were also more emerging Pyramidal Orchids.

And some more multi flower plants.

Before I left I went back to the Lizard Orchid one more time, passing through a cloud of Ox-eye Daisies.

The Lizard Orchid is on the edge of its range in England and its distribution numbers can fluctuate notoriously, it grows sporadically in well drained, open sunny spots on chalk and limestone grasslands. among both closely cropped and long grass.

This orchid was a surprise here, there never having been one before, how it got here will be a mystery, but welcome, the hope now is that there will be more to come.

It was a case of job done, so I walked around the lake with Swifts above me and Whitethroats singing from the bushes.  

26th May - Chappett's Copse and Old Winchester Hill, Hampshire

An early start to avoid the heat, temperatures over the last few days have been in the thirties with yesterday recording the warmest ever May day at 34.8 degrees, crazy!  I have been wanting to visit Chappett's Copse just outside West Meon recently.  The drive is strenuous, not due to the distance but the narrow road.  Time wise it is just around the corner from me.  I arrived a little before 8:00 am and it was already hot.  There was no breeze in the copse as I walked the main path, the sunshine dappled through the leaves.  A Firecrest was flitting about in the lower branches singing as it went.

But I wasn't here for birds I was here for the special Orchids found in this wood that is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife trust.  Having been before I had a good idea where to look and quickly found a group of Narrow-leaved or Sword Leaved Helleborines.

 

The Narrow-leaved Helleborine is quite a regal plant with elegant long leaves that alternate up the stem of the plant towards a then leafless spire of pretty pure white bell shaped flowers.

Each flower has pointed sepals and opens just enough to show a golden patch on a heart shaped lip.

Looking around I also managed to find a very worn Bird's Nest Orchid.  By its condition it looks like we have missed the peak flowering time.  Hopefully we will be able to find some more.

I made my way back to the car to meet Ian and then we returned.  After showing him the first patch I had found we walked on and came across a lot more.  The other rare Helleborine found here is the White Helleborine.  Unlike the Narrow-leaved Helleborine this one has broad spear like leaves that become shorter and narrower as the reach the top of the stem.The blooms are egg shaped and do not often fully open, so at first glance it doesn't look much like an orchid at all.

It is the barely visible yellow orange lip that gives rise to the plant's folk name, "poached egg plant.

The White Helleborine is mostly self pollinating.  It takes about eight years to develop from seed and then flowering can take an additional two to three years.  It is found in beech woodland on chalky soils and is a shade loving species.  It is one of the more commoner Helleborines and we could find several growing well away from the main clumps.

It is the Narrow-leaved Helleborine that the reserve is known for and there were plenty of these.

The Alternative name, Sword-leaved Helleborine comes from the narrow stiff leaves.  The flowers do not have any scent and rely bees and wasps for pollination.

Found in Beech woodlands often with an open canopy but they are found in shady conditions too.  Here at Chappets the sunshine would filter through and pick out the flowers on the woodland floor.

We did find some more Bird's Nest Orchids, but whilst not as far gone as the first one they were still way past their best.

The honey brown flower spikes are unique among wild British Orchids.  Most of the flowers are clustered together towards the tip of the stem.  Typical of an orchid flower (although you can't see it here) the petals and sepals form a loose hood and the lip vaguely resembles a human torso.  The flowers are dominated by the large darker lip which has outward hanging lobes and a nectar producing depression.  The nectar has a sweet smell similar to honey and the orchid is pollinated by insects attracted to the smell.

The orchid is sustained by a living fungus, forming a relationship with fungi that are simultaneously in partnership with surrounding trees.  The name "Bird's Nest comes from the ball of roots that are said to resemble a bird's nest.

Having managed to find all we had hoped for, a little disappointed with the Bird's Nest, but then every years seems to be different these years, we moved on to Old Winchester Hill.

Walking from the car park you are always greeted by the amazing view out across the fields towards the hill fort.

There were very few flowers in the grass areas, but there were Common Blues, in fact on the walk we counted twenty four Common Blues.

There were Dog Rose flowers and the bramble was just beginning to emerge which was an attraction for the Brimstone that are just about to finish their firs brood.

This area has always been good for Small Tortoiseshell over the last few years and one appeared on the bramble.  Numbers of this butterfly have seemed to reduce significantly so it was good to find this one.

Although it refused to sit with wings open.

On Saturday at Martin Down Painted Ladies were attracted to the Dog Rose flowers and it was the same here with at least three on the flowers.

A Small Heath sat on one of the bramble leaves.

Blackcaps and Whitethroats were singing from the bushes.  This female was carrying food so there must be a nest close by.

We walked down to the lower slope where it was a little cooler and then up on to the hill fort where the breeze took the edge off the temperature and it was much more comfortable.  As always the view was stunning.

A Red Kite drifted below us.

Then one came overhead.

It was very strange to hear and see Mediterranean Gulls fly past, when we drove up they were hawking insects over the fields.  Here they were flycatching in front of us.  I don't know what is more impressive a Hobby catching insects with its feet of these Mediterranean Gull catching them with their beaks.

These are probably non breeding birds, although they are not showing the black tips of the third calendar birds.  Numbers gather around here in June and this I probably the start of that.  I hear them over my house every summer.

A lone male Kestrel flew past contrasted against the dark green of the field below.

We walked around the hill fort and then back along the slope.  A surprise butterfly wise was a couple of Small Copper.

Coming down the slope to the Woodpecker Wood we found some more orchids, not very big and these were the only ones.  These are Spotted Orchids and are so difficult to pin down.  The consensus was that this was probably a Common Spotted.

And this one too, but it could also be a Heath

We were a lot more confident with this one, a Chalk Fragrant Orchid.

There were Dingy Skipper on the slope to add to the day's total and in the wood Speckled Wood.  Coming out of the wood we expected more butterflies, but there were hardly any, maybe just too hot now?  The path now was up hill all the way, it was hot and the legs were struggling.

Back at the car park I decided it was too hot for me now so I headed home. A successful day with the orchids, but a little disappointing with the butterflies, a total of eleven species being seen