2012 Site 3

[fredg]

Site 3 is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and contains Dactylorhiza, Neottia ovata, Ophrys apifera and Gymnodenia conopsis.
Many will have walked through these meadows and never noticed the Twayblades, they're not the most noticable of the native orchids, of which there must be many hundreds.
Ophrys apifera numbers are up here in 2012 compared to the other years I have visited.
The Fragrant Orchids are just beginning to flower, it's very hard to spot the ones still in bud and we only found the two with flowers open. Another visit in a week or so iwill be required 

g, h and i Twayblades - Neottia ovata

[fredg]

m and n A beetle for ID please.
o and p Clover
q           Fragrant orchid - Gymnadenia conopsis
s and t  Bee Orchids - Ophrys apifera

[fredg]

u and w    Bee orchid - Ophrys apifera
x, y and z  Fragrant orchid - Gymnodenia conopsis[/b]

[Peter Maguire]

m and n A beetle for ID please.

Looks very like a lily beetle to me Fred - Lilioceris lilii if you're feeling posh.
Great pictures you're getting this season. It must be getting boring with all those bee orchids around. 

[Ulla Hansson]

I think that the beautiful red beetle is a Pyrochroa coccinia.
Ulla

[Peter Maguire]

Quite right Ulla, I was too hasty!
It's fortunate that I wasn't there - I might have squashed it out of habit.

[fredg]

I checked on that Ulla and it has a black head.
More likely therefore to be Pyrochroa serraticornis?

[Maggi Young]

The Lily Beetle  has more shiny and "pitted" wing cases, I think. 

 The shots of the Clover heads are just super.

[fredg]

These are lily beetles, I know them well enough, or should I say too well. I'm afraid they're nothing like the one for ID.

[ronm]

You've already nailed it Fred with Pyrochroa serraticornis. Although you forgot to mention it is a female,

[fredg]

A return visit to check out the site .

The Gymnadenia conopsis were a bit more obvious.
Many have conpleted flowering and some in full bloom with every stage inbetween represented.
Photo 3 shows the two extremes next to each other.

I did spot some interesting wildlife and tried for a photo.
The result I'll post in the wildlife thread 

[ronm]

Great pictures Fred. 
I've never seen these 'in the flesh', are they very fragrant?

[Tony Willis]

Fred

are these various sites reclaimed mining areas? They certainly look good and seem ideal for orchids.

[Neil]

Great pictures Fred. 
I've never seen these 'in the flesh', are they very fragrant?

Ron yes they are very fragrant, best on a warm evening to get the best smell.

[ronm]

Thanks Neil. Seems this species has a lot going for it. Wonderful plants
Have the pollinating species been established? Or is it pollinated in another way?