My annual pilgrimage to Wye Down and Yockletts Bank in Kent meant an earlyish start to ensure arrival at Wye before 10.00 a.m. The best place for butteflies and orchids seems to be at the bottom of the hill, particularly the path that winds northwards up the valley. It was clearly a little early for Lady Orchids with only a few starting to flower and definitely too early for the other orchids usually found here (e.g. Man, Bee). Butterflies were very well represented with several fresh looking Green Hairstreaks, a Brimstone and a male Holly Blue. On to the delightful Yockletts Bank where the Fly and Lady Orchids were just starting flower as were the Common Twayblades. In the wood to the west of the central path there were large numbers of Early Purple Orchids and I also found a Herb Paris. On the way home I dropped in at the cemetery for a last look at the Green-winged Orchids and found my first Small Heath of 2021.
male Brimstone Green Hairstreak Green Hairstreak male Holly Blue Lady Orchid (Wye Down) Wye Down Wye Down Twayblade Twayblade Early Purple Orchid Early Purple Orchid Early Purple Orchid Fly Orchid Fly Orchid Lady Orchid Lady Orchid
Green-winged Orchid
Small Heath
