Field trips June 2010

[fredg]

This is a trip today (24-06-2010 ) to Site 5.
Again it is a reclaimed coal mining waste disposal area ( muck stack / slag heap / bing ).
The variation in the Dactylorhiza is amazing here.
We believed we were looking at Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Dactylorhiza purpurella and their hybrids.
Please feel free to comment on species etc.
As we were leaving we came across a small colony of Ophrys apifera

[fredg]

Site 5 continued

[fredg]

Site 5 continued further

[fredg]

We then continued on to Site 6.
This is an area of scrub and long grass.
Some of the orchids here were of considerable size.
Purples predominated.
We believe we had here Dactylorhiza purpurella, Dactylorhiza praetermissa, Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp pulchella and their hybrids

[fredg]

Site 6 continued

[daveyp1970]

i just thought i would add a quick glimpse of things to come,two photos from a colony of broad leaf helleborines  (Epipactis helleborine)we will post more when they are in full flower.

[Anthony Darby]

Fred, the burnet caterpillar and moth (Zygaena sp.) out at the same time either indicates two species or a long fligth period.

[fredg]

Anthony,
I was surprised to find the caterpillar on a Dactylorhiza as I don't recall this being listed as a food plant.
Unless of course it was also on a field trip. 
Also, perhaps it was going for the two winter caterpillar option as it has a fear of flying.

[Peter Maguire]

I know we're now into July, but I thought I'd post a few pictures from last weekend which was still June.
Firstly two orchids from a coastal site just north of Tyneside. Although they look very different, I've come to the conclusion that they are both Dactylorhiza fuchsii, although all the ones in the colony looking like the first example were just coming into flower. The ones like the second example were well into flowering - hybrids perhaps?

[Peter Maguire]

A second batch taken the following day (last Sunday) at another coastal site in mid Northumberland. Again, I think they are all D fuchsii, but one individual plant (photos 5+6) seems to be more vigorous and perhaps a hybrid, but with what I am not sure (perhaps D purpurella?).

[Peter Maguire]

At the second site I found my first ever Ophrys apifera  . One flower spike only, and when I passed the site again today, I went for another look - couldn't find it. I suspect a nibbling rabbit perhaps.

[daveyp1970]

At the second site I found my first ever Ophrys apifera  . One flower spike only, and when I passed the site again today, I went for another look - couldn't find it. I suspect a nibbling rabbit perhaps.

It's a fantastic feeling getting to see something you've never seen before, I'm hoping to find frog orchid this year but I've said that for the last 10 years or so.So cross fingers.

[Maggi Young]

Every one of these orchids a gem.... so interesting to see the variation.
Congratulations on your O. apifera, Peter.

Good luck with your Frog Orchid hunt, Davey.... just be sure you have your camera with you at all times! 

[Peter Maguire]

Davey,
I was lucky enough to see Frog Orchid last year in the Alps (under its old name Coeloglossum viride ), but it helped having a botanical tour leader - see the Pontresina thread: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3870.15. In woodland, like the photo I posted on that thread, they can be tall enough to locate relatively easily. In the open, like the one posted below, they are very short and take some finding -best of luck!

(Actually referring to the Pontresina thread reminds me that I did not finish posting a full set of pictures from that trip after my computer failure - I'll try to remedy that over the next week or so)

[Darren]

Dark red helleborine, Epipactis atrorubens, at gaitbarrows national nature reserve at the end of June.