6th June - Martin Down, Hampshire

June is always a good time to visit Martin Down so I had arranged to meet Ian relatively early this morning.  As it was it wasn't as early as I liked but on arriving the weather was good and despite the cold wind it was a pleasant sunny morning.  We set off up the hill towards the Bokerly Ditch once more this year.

On our last visit the Greater Butterfly Orchids had been just stalks, the hope was that today they would be in flower.  As we approached the ditch we could see the bank covered in white flowers and as we got closer we could see these were in fact Greater Butterfly Orchids and more than we have ever seen at this location, they were literally everywhere.

While some were more of a stalk, this one had fewer flower heads, but it provided the chance to see the delicate nature of these orchids.

There are two species of butterfly orchid, greater and lesser.  They are best told apart by the angle of the pollinia, they are parallel in the lesser, but as can be seen here in the Greater they are more angled.  The pollinia are the orange marks in the middle of the flower head.

Everywhere you looked there were stalks of these lovely delicate flowers.

The Greater Butterfly Orchids were not the only orchid species, there were at least a couple of Fragrant Orchid species.  Chalk Fragrant Orchids

And what looks like a Heath Fragrant Orchid.

There were also plenty of Common Spotted Orchids.

We walked along the ditch once more, passing so many Common Spotted and Fragrant Orchids.

At the junction with the Jubilee Way we found a Spotted Flycatcher in the dead branches of an Ash tree.  By the way it stayed in place we think it might be a newly fledged youngster, but were not certain.

The dark background of the trees provided a lovely frame for this male Yellowhammer.

The female, here with food.

And a Five Spot Burnet in the grass of the dutch.

We walked up the Jubilee Way looking for more Spotted Flycatcher, we could hear them in the copse.  Ahead of us was a Roe Deer feeding by the gate.

Then we came across a Brown Hare in the grass.

We walked to the top of the path without seeing anymore Hare, then as we came back a Spotted Flycatcher flew out of the trees, but we were distracted as there were two Brown Hares that ran past us very close.

The Spotted Flycatcher then came back and sat for us on an old post.

We returned to the ditch and continued the walk.  A Small Heath settled in the grass.

Then a flash of electric blue and a male Adonis Blue settled on some Kidney Vetch in front of us, a stunning butterfly.

With wings folded it doesn't stand out.

Rooks were all over the grassland and would settle together calling constantly in the hawthorn bushes.

At the next footpath cross roads a Small Blue, looking a little faded.

The Burnt Tip Orchids were still in flower, but were looking as if they were about to go over very soon.

But the other rare flower here, the Field Fleawort, were showing very well.  Favouring chalky soils, this is a strong hold for a species that is becoming quite rare.

Just before the rifle ranges is a very good place to find the Common Spotted Orchids, this one a very special specimen.

A Small Heath nectaring on the bramble flowers.

Another Five Spot Burnet.

We walked around the rifle ranges and headed to a corner of one where there are usually good numbers of Fragrant Orchids.  As we worked our way through the Fragrants I came across what at first I thought was an orchid that had gone over.  But a closer look showed it to be fine and after Ian checked it with his app, we were looking at a Frog Orchid, a first for both of us.

It is a relatively small orchid and can be difficult to spot, however the shape and colour are distinctive once you know what to look for.  They are scarce favouring chalky and limestone soils.

They have downward facing flowers with rounded a rounded hood and long reddish green lips which have two side lobes and a tiny central one.

There were plenty of orchids along a bank that was now being warmed by the sun.  Never give up the chance to photograph moth or butterfly settled on an orchid.  Here a Five Spot Burnet on a Common Spotted Orchid.

Then the butterfly that is special here, an almost immaculate Marsh Fritillary.

There were Common Blues and and a few Brown Argus buzzing around in the sunshine.

Another Moth on an Orchid, this time a Burnt Companion, a fairly common day flying moth in these grasslands.

The grass on the bank.

Walking back there wasn't much of any other interest, but this Grizzled Skipper showed itself from a different angle showing off the lovely patterns of the underwing.

These dainty little butterflies are now coming to the end of their season, a chance to enjoy them until next year.

We walked around the edge of the fields hoping for Turtle Dove without any luck.  A Lesser Whitethroat gave us the run around before we walked back to the car park and I headed home with time to get myself ready for my coming trip.