In habitat:- Site 5 Ophrys and Dactylorhiza

[fredg]

I'm afraid I went out with wife and camera again today.

This is Site 5, another reclaimed coal mining spoil heap.
The weather closed in and started raining when we had only covered half of the orchid's range so we headed back to the car early.
The rest of the site may follow at a later date.

I may have overdone the photos this time

Dactylorhiza sp. and hybrids

[fredg]

contd

[fredg]

contd

This set includes a solitary Ophrys apifera and I believe two male Six-Spot Burnet moths attempting to copulate with a female as she emerges from the chrysalis

[fredg]

contd

The first is a Burnet Moth chrysalis, there were masses of them at this particular area.
The white Dactylorhiza shines out like a beacon amongst all the others.

[fredg]

contd.

[fredg]

In addition to the wildflowers that can be seen in the photos there were a few that were all over the site in association with the orchids.

[Maren]

Oh Fred,

this is dactylorhiza gluttony, I am happy to confess.

Can you please mark the white one and go back when the seed is ripe? I would love a capsule and I know just the man who can grow them.

Mind you, it will probably mean putting an iron rod next to it and going back with a metal detector later in the season.

[daveyp1970]

Oh Fred,

this is dactylorhiza gluttony, I am happy to confess.

Can you please mark the white one and go back when the seed is ripe? I would love a capsule and I know just the man who can grow them.

Mind you, it will probably mean putting an iron rod next to it and going back with a metal detector later in the season.

Maren Fred has a lovely white himself I am sure he would get seed off that.

[fredg]

We can only hope Dave 

BTW MrsG takes a mean photo too.
These are a couple of hers.

[ashley]

Wonderful orchids & photos Fred
What's that rather fine Fabaceae (S5wa 2011) do you know ?  It's a new one to me.

[fredg]

Ashley, that would be Onobrychis viciifolia or Sainfoin, apparently it's also known as Esparcet and Pipirigallo.
There's quite a show of it around the site.

[ashley]

Thanks Fred.  One I must try.

[Anthony Darby]

Aren't those six-spot burnets (Zygaena filipendulae) Fred?

[fredg]

Oh dear, I can't count. 
Thank you Anthony, I hadn't really looked at the markings.
Site 4 had Five-spot Burnet the day before and I just assumed these were without looking and identifying properly.

I'll correct the text

[Anthony Darby]

Not seen ragged robin for a while. One of the plants I miss.