Friston Forest - 18th August

Today we did the 15 Km walk that starts at Horseshoe Plantation and then proceeds west via Birling Gap and on to the Seven Sisters. On the way we saw many Autumn Lady's Tresses on the South Downs and a single male Adonis Blue. At Cuckmere Haven after a coffee break we headed back via Friston Forest where there are some flower meadows that attract butterflies, particularly onto Marjoram and Knapweed. Here we found a pristine female Clouded Yellow as well as a male Adonis Blue and also a multi-coloured female Common Blue.

female Clouded Yellow

female Clouded Yellow

female Common Blue

female Common Blue

Bexhill-on-Sea - 16th August

Autumn Lady's Tresses are now popping up around Bexhill on roadside grass verges, in parks and especially on the front lawns of houses. There are some particularly nice specimens in The Polegrove by the bowling greens.

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Minera Quarry & Ainsdale Dunes - 8th August

On what felt like a last chance to see some orchids for this year I drove first to Minera Quarry near Wrexham where I found some beautiful Broad-leaved Helleborines as well as the expected Pyramidal, Common Spotted and Marsh Fragrant Orchids (but alas no Frog Orchids). Then a last check in at Ainsdale Dunes where Broad-leaved and Dune Helleborines are almost finished and another potential candidate for DH x BLH. It was growing in between the two and was larger than DH but with flowers that seem to have features of both.

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Marsh Fragrant Orchid

Marsh Fragrant Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Dune Helleborine

Dune Helleborine

Dune Helleborine

Dune Helleborine

Dune x Broad-leaved Helleborine?

Dune x Broad-leaved Helleborine?

Dune x Broad-leaved Helleborine?

Arnside Knott - 7th August

 A great day at Arnside Knott where I finally found the colony of Scotch Argus after searching for a few hours. There were probably ca. 20 in a small area, some nectaring on marjoram. Also a few Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Small White, Gatekeeper and a single Grayling and Dark Green Fritillary.

female Scotch Argus

female Scotch Argus

female Scotch Argus

male Scotch Argus

female Common Blue

male Common Blue

Grayling

Speckled Wood

Ainsdale Dunes - 2nd August

In the Scots Pine forest near Ainsdale Beach there is an area where Dune Helleborine, Green-flowered Helleborine and Broad-leaved Helleborine all grow within a few metres of each other. The small and delicate GFH are in full flower, as are the impressive BLH, whereas the DH are coming to and end now although very popular with Red Longhorn Beetles. On the edge of the forest by the dunes there are now several Grayling flying together with Common Darters and marauding Robber Flies.

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Common Darters

Common Darter

Common Darter

Dune Helleborine

Dune Helleborine

Grayling

Grayling

Green-flowered Helleborine

Green-flowered Helleborine

Green-flowered Helleborines

Robber Fly with prey