Orchids & Kidney Vetch

Today went to a couple of sites with Greenie [in the wild]. First stop was a site near New Addington full of Common Spotted and Pyramidal Orchids.

Then it was a move to Farleigh Dean, A Valley which is now a golf course, the yellow in the pictures is mostly Kidney Vetch, the foodplant for the Small Blue Butterfly, several were seen flying around the flowerheads, a pair was seen.

 Then it was onto the Glanville Site, where 3 were seen on the muddy track at the bottom of the site, one fed on Birds-foot Trefoil, before flying off.

 The second one was mud puddling in a damper patch.

Hutchinsons Bank Orchid Walk

Here are a few things seen on todays walk, My favorite green beetle, A common Lizard, and Bee Orchid.

Greater Butterfly Orchid.

Man Orchid

I went over to Hutchinsons and Chapel Bank today, a few Man Orchids were in flower. Small Blue, Grizzled Skipper and Brimstone Butterflies and a Mother Shipton Moth.

Chapel Bank Orchids

I made a visit to our Chapel Bank Nature Reserve today, looking for the orchids, I found these special orchids,

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Early Purple Orchid, some 4 year old seedlings were also found, they should flower in about 3 years, as it takes about 7 years for the Early Purple to flower from seed.

The original group first found as a single plant in 1992 are still present in the same spot.

One of the more recent plants is in the later stages of bud, and should be in flower in a week or so.

New Small Blue Scrapes

With help from the Dowlands Countryside Management Project 2 new scrapes have been put in along the cutting on Hutchinsons Bank Nature Reserve, these will improve the Small Blue butterfly habitat.

Wisley Gardens

I made a visit today to Wisley, to see the Tropical Butterfly display, and a few 'Native' butterflies, in total 3 different Red Admirals.

 Emerald Swallowtail

June 2011 Review Part 1

Butterfly Conservations walk at Howell Hill was good for orchids, with Fragrant, Man , Bee and a lovely Common Spotted Orchid x Fragrant Hybrid.

Hutchinsons Bank had its first Dark Green Fritillary for the year, along with Greater Butterfly Orchid at Chapel Bank. There was also a Grassland Management course.