Nick Turner's Nature Blog: May 2019

Monday, May 27, 2019

Queendown Warren & Yockletts Bank & Park Gate Down - 27th May

I decided I needed to make a trip to Kent to see two of the counties specialities, namely Man and Lady Orchids. I spent the morning at Queendown Warren where on arrival I heard a Turtle Dove singing which I took as a good omen. There were several Bee Orchids just coming into flower and also some Fragrant Orchids which were still a few weeks away from full bloom. I managed to find some Man Orchids near the top of the bank and someone kindly showed me the location of White Helleborines. Amongst the butterflies the highlights were undoubtedly the Adonis Blues.

Bee Orchid

Man Orchid

White Helleborine

male Adonis Blue

female Adonis Blue

I then drove cross-country for my first ever visit to Yockletts Bank in search of Lady Orchids. I spent the first hour walking in what turned out to be the wrong direction (although I did find some Lady Orchids). I then doubled back and crossed the road and found an explosion of different orchids at various places along the path. First Fly Orchids, followed by Lady Orchids and then one spot where there were Fly/Lady/Common-Spotted/Greater Butterfly Orchids as well as Twayblades - quite an impressive sight.

Lady Orchid

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Twayblade

... and finally a quick stop-off at Park Gate Down where the Monkey Orchids were now in full flower. Also some impressive Greater Butterfly Orchids and Fly Orchids as well as Twayblade.

Monkey Orchid

Fly Orchid

Park Gate Down

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Beachy Head & Park Corner Heath - 25th May

Spent the morning looking for butterflies at Whitbread Hollow, Beachy Head. Found several Grizzled Skippers, including one laying eggs, as well as some pristine Dingy Skippers. Common Blues also much more prevalent and observed mating. Brown Argus also seen.

Grizzled Skipper

Dingy Skipper

female Brown Argus

Dingy Skipper

mating Common Blues

Common Blue

roosting Dingy Skipper

In the afternoon I paid my first visit to the Sussex Butterfly Conservation Reserve at Park Corner Heath near Rowland Wood. Having found the correct spot I was fortunate enough to meet a couple of local enthusiasts who knew where best to look for Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries. Soon we found a few and as the afternoon wore on they started to roost enabling us all to get some really nice photographs.

male Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary

Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Park Gate Down - 17th May

My first ever visit to this iconic Orchid site in Kent. The Monkey Orchids were only just beginning to open but there was plenty else in flower including Early Purple Orchids and Twayblades. The Monkey Orchids seem to be mainly concentrated in the first of the three fields as you enter the reserve through the gate.

Monkey Orchid

Park Gate Down

Monkey Orchid

Twayblade

Early Purple Orchid

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Beachy Head - 16th May

My second visit of the spring to Beachy Head and I decided to concentrate on the Whitbread Hollow area where there are some particularly good little sites for butterflies and flowers. Both Dingy and Grizzled Skippers were present near the football pitches as well as some Green Hairstreaks and a Large White. The Grizzled Skippers seems to prefer very specific areas and can be difficult to spot. I also managed to find the Burnt Orchids that I stumbled upon the previous year as well as plenty of Sainfoin just coming into flower.

Green Hairstreak

Dingy Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

Large White

Burnt Orchid

Green Hairstreak

Sainfoin