My third Kent orchid trip of the year which is timed to catch as many different species as possible in day by visiting the three ‘orchid meccas’ of Park Gate Down & Yockletts Bank & Wye Down. This time I thought I would approach them in ‘reverse order’, i.e. starting with Park Gate Down which is the most southerly of the three sites on the North Downs. Here the Monkey Orchids were just about in perfect condition, as were the Fly Orchids and Common Twayblades. For the first time I saw a single Lady Orchid which looked quite prominent all on its own. Both the Chalk Fragrant and Greater Butterfly Orchids were just starting to flower, no doubt a couple of weeks behind schedule due to the cool spring.
Monkey Orchid Monkey Orchid Chalk Fragrant Orchid Common Twayblade Common Twayblade Fly Orchid Fly Orchid Greater Butterfly Orchid Greater Butterfly Orchid Greater Butterfly Orchid Greater Butterfly Orchid Greater Butterfly Orchid Lady Orchid Lady Orchid Monkey Orchid
At Yockletts Bank there were some Lady Orchids still in flower together with plenty of Fly Orchids, some in large clumps. Also Common Twayblade and Common Spotted Orchid and White Helleborine just starting to flower.
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| Common Spotted Orchid |
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| Common Spotted Orchid |
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| Common Twayblade |
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| Fly Orchid |
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| Fly Orchid |
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| Fly Orchid |
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| Fly Orchid |
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| Lady Orchid |
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| White Helleborine |
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| White Helleborine |
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| White Helleborine |
Next and last stop Wye Down where I was pleased to see that the Late Spider Orchids were in flower and looking very regal. Also a few Man and Bee Orchids and Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchids just starting to flower. As a bonus a very attractive looking female ‘blue’ Common Blue. So in terms of orchids, twelve different species in a day! Difficult to think where else I could do that at three sites so close to each other.
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| Bee Orchid |
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| female Common Blue |
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| Late Spider Orchid |
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| Late Spider Orchid |
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| Late Spider Orchid |
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| Late Spider Orchid |
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| Late Spider Orchid |
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| Late Spider Orchid |
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| Late Spider Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |
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| Man Orchid |