12th May - Broxhead Common and Noar Hill

I was keen to find a Tree Pipit today, and with not too much time I decided to try Broxhead Common, only a short twenty minute drive from home, after that it was a nother short drive to Noar Hill for something special.

I walked on to the heath with a Chiffchaff singing amongst the birch trees.  A bird at the top of a dead tree turned out to be a Stonechat, but as I walked around the gorse I heard a Dartford Warbler singing.  The Dartford Warbler moved amongst the gorse and eventually showed, and it showed very well.

Light was difficult but the Dartford stayed in close range.

Great views of the male above the gorse.

I walked around the paths and heard a Tree Pipit singing in the distance.  As I walked around the pond I flushed a Woodlark from the ground, it was joined by another and flew up to the overhead cables.

This view showing off the very long hind claws.

I managed to get a long distance view of a singing Tree Pipit, but couldn't get close enough for an acceptable photograph.  Deciding to walk on as I approached where I had parked the car I disturbed two Small Heath butterflies, a first for the year.

Next stop was another twenty minute drive to Noar Hill.  As I walked on to the reserve it was in glorious sunshine, the reserve sheltered from the cool wind.  I walked into the first chalk pit and found a Duke of Burgundy.

Having seen the dukes earlier in spring, what I was hoping to find was a Dingy Skipper and it didn't take long to find one in the same pit.

Perched oon the Cowslips that are now just going over.

There were still a lot of Early Purple Orchids in bloom, and it was orchids I was over, but not these ones.

Walking through the other pits I disturbed a Holly Blue and then a couple of Common Blues, another first butterfly for the year.  Here the two unusually sitting together in the sunshine.

Another Duke of Burgundy, in total I saw twelve all around the reserve, a very good number at this time of year considering they emerged early in April.  Most of them were males and in quite good condition.

A Painted Lady flew through, of course not stopping, there were also Brimstone and Orange Tip on the wing.  I came by a couple of Juniper bushes and on a Hazel close by were three Green Hairstreak, all immaculate.

I was looking for a particular orchid and headed to the area where I had seen them last year.  I had heard they were showing and again like everything this year they were early, maybe two weeks early.  As I searched the area I found this Common Twayblade, with petals just starting to show.

It took a few sweeps but eventually I found a short flower stem of a Fly Orchid.

The fly orchid has a tall, green spike growing from shiny, oval leaves. The flowers are well spaced and resemble flies. They're dark reddish-brown, with a shiny silver-blue patch in the middle that looks like a pair of wings - they even seem to have tiny antennae!

Fly orchids grow in chalk and limestone soils, from woodland glades and rides to open grassland. They can also be found in quarries, on roadside banks, and sometimes in fens. The flowers that grow from their tall, green spikes in late spring resemble flies.

Despite the flowers looking like flies, they actually attract digger wasps. They release a scent which mimics a female wasp's pheromones, luring in males that attempt to mate with them. The male wasps get a dusting of pollen, which they carry on to the next flower that fools them, hopefully pollinating the plant.

After some more searching I found a spike that was yet to flower.

No doubt there will be more over the next few days and weeks, last year I found a white form of this orchid, so maybe we will see one this year.

Walking on it was back to the butterflies and more Dukes and this Orange Tip that actually stopped and I was able to get a different angle on the butterfly.

Then down the main path this Holly Brown on the meadow sweet with a lovely dark background.

As I walked out of the reserve to the car I heard a Raven calling close by and it then came out over the fields.

Success in getting the targets I went for although a shame I couldn't get a photograph of the tree Pipit, Orchids are now back, three species seen today, some lovely butterflies including a good count of Dukes for the time of year and a great Dartford experience.