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.  

2nd June - Portsdown Hill and Old Winchester Hill, Hampshire

Monday looked like the best day of the first week of June, the forecast showing sunshine for most of the day.  With reports of Marbled Whites at Portsdown Hill and a chance the orchids may have progressed I decided to head there first.  I was hoping today would be a good butterfly day.

The view as I parked was lovely in the morning sunshine, the tide out in Portsmouth harbours, but sufficiently deep for the warships that were at anchor.

It didn't take long to find the Marbled Whites, there were several flying amongst the short grass as I scrambled down the side of the hill.

A stunning male looking like it has just emerged.

The last two visits here have been in overcast and damp conditions so it was wonderful to see the chalk of the Portsdown cliff against the blue sky.

I was disappointed not to see any orchid spikes as I arrived at the triangle site.  It took awhile but I eventually found one Lizard Orchid, probably the same one Ian and I had seen just over a week ago.  It looked like it was suffering from the lack of rain, the flowers looking wilted and tired.

There wasn't any sign of the Bee Orchids, hopefully a little too early still, but there were plenty of Pyramidal Orchids just beginning to emerge.

Rather than climb the west side of the cliff I decided to retrace my steps back to the lay by where the car was parked.  A Buzzard was being mobbed by a Carrion Crow along the edge of the chalk cliffs.

Just before I started the ascent up the hill I came across another butterfly first for the year, the ubiquitous Meadow Brown, the first and maybe one of the last photographs of this commonly seen butterfly.

Other butterflies seen were a single Holly Blue, two Red Admiral and several Brimstone.

From Portsdown I drove over the downs to Old Winchester Hill, my first visit of the year.  I walked from the car park along the top path and was surprised by the short grass, normally by now this would be quite long and blowing in the breeze.  So with the short grass the only butterfly was the Small Heath.

Once I reached the flowering bramble things picked up, several male Brimstones nectaring on the flowers.

A very worn and faded Painted Lady flew past me, still, despite the state of the wings, a very strong flyer.  It settled on the bramble.

Then a little further along I came across half a dozen immaculate Painted Ladies, more indication that this could be a very good year for this lovely butterfly.

Just as I was about to leave the bramble I followed two orange butterflies, only one settled and showed itself as a Small Tortoiseshell, a butterfly that is becoming quite rare these days.

At the bridleway to the HillFort, on the other side of the fence a=was a bank covered with purple Vetch.

I walked through the Yew Forest and down on to the track that follows the slope to the fort.  Down below I could hear Red Kite calling and stopped to watch four birds all together, I think these were immature birds from last year collecting in the dead branches of the Ash trees.

Walking around the moat of the fort, what was noticeable once again was the short grass and lack of wild flowers.

With no flowers I didn't see a single butterfly on the walk around the fort.  Back at the gate the Red Kites had taken to the air, showing well below and at at eye level.

The view looking back towards the fort.

Walking down the slope towards the Woodpecker Wood there were several Common Spotted Orchids.

A white variant.

The commoner pink variety.

And I was also able to find a single Chalk Fragrant Orchid.

Walking through the wood there were plenty of Speckled Wood in the sunny glades.

This path shows how dry the hill is.

I only saw three blue butterflies, two Common of which this was a very worn and faded specimen.

And a stunning male Adonis Blue.

I sat at the bottom of the slope and ate my lunch, as I did so there were Meadow Brown and a single Marbled White about.  The walk up the slope saw the four Red Kite appear with a Buzzard and a pair of Raven fly over.  Not a bad start to the month, but it looks like the weather will not be very helpful for the rest of the coming week.