Site 5 2012 Dactylorhiza

[fredg]

This site is a reclaimed coal mining by-product disposal area ( slag heap - muck stack) 
It's been difficult to fit in visits to the orchid sites between thunderstorms and torrential downpours so this visit is a month later than last year.
Many of the Dactylorhiza are passed their best but still put on an amazing show.
On and around the lower ponds we were treated to a flying display by the many Dragonflies.
I can't remember the names but a pro-cameraman was there and he mentioned at least three species.
I didn't manage a shot of them but managed a couple of Damselflies, sort of 
We found a few small patches of Bee Orchid which were well over, all showing that they have pollinated.
There are a few photos and this is just a sample.

Perhaps I should have called this thread DACTFEST

[fredg]

contd

[fredg]

contd

[fredg]

Don't say you weren't warned 

[fredg]

Nearly there 

[ronm]

Damselflys are The Common Blue Damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum, Fred. 

These days we need to remember that the Common English Names were attributed over a century ago, and have really no relevance to todays standings. 'Common' in the name of a species, was  meant to be ' common or garden' and really never did mean that there were vast quantities over the UK. Certainly they are not today and all of our insect fauna are under great pressure,  The possible exceptions are some of the Diptera. 

Now Dactylorhiza, ....... that seems to be another matter for certain of us. 
So many, so beautiful, ....Thanks Fred 

[fredg]

The Dragonflies gave a great display ronm.
The ones flying tandem  were interesting.
He definitely mentioned Libellula quadrimaculata - the Four-spotted Chaser and I saw some of his photos of them on the camera ( £4000 of Camera and optics  )
The only other I can have a decent guess at would be Orthetrum sp.  - one of the Skimmers.
To be honest, with the amount of Dragonflies and Damselflies going about  you wouldn't think they're not common

[ronm]

Darters, Chasers, Gliders and Skimmers.  The Libellulidae. Masters of flight and voracious predators. The season for these to be on the wing is just starting. I can imagine you had a real treat watching these species Fred.  . As there are only two sp. of Orthetrum here, my vote, given your locality would be Orthetrum cancellatum, the Black Tailed Skimmer. Could be a new area record for the other one though!

With the draining of wetlands and flood plains for housing construction, pressure is on each and every species. However a lot are not rare, as in endangered. One of the problems with the National recording scheme is that a single sighting can give a 'tick' in a 10 km square. If there are a million individuals in that location or just one, counts as the same, ( not quite true, but hope you get the gist). Until someone has a better idea? its all we have. But as is the same for the orchids you show, a change of land use leads to total local site extinction. End of story, unlikely to return. . Just a very small pond / puddle in any garden ( no fish allowed ) will sustain a decent population of Odonata. Please.