A Trip to the Bog !

In this case, a trip to another new site for me Hothfield Heathlands, it's here that you can find four of Kent's last remaining lowland valley bogs, together with some of the specialised plants associated with this type of habitat. I didn't explore the heaths on this visit, a good excuse to return latter.

Location of the Main Bog

I was particularly interested in the Heath Spotted Orchid that thrives in the damp acid soils of the bog, once we had found the main bog it wasn't hard to find the Heath Spotted Orchids.
They look very similar to Common Spotted Orchids, The lip of the Heath Spotted-orchid is also more rounded and without the longer central tooth found on the Common Spotted-orchid. the flowers appeared to be paler, the lip is pale pink/white, being marked with darker pink fine dots and dashed lines,

Here's a comparison with a Common Spotted Orchid found a few weeks ago at Shorne.

            Common Spotted Orchid                                             Heath Spotted Orchid

There seemed to be quite a few variations but all with dots and dashes, many were close to the boardwalk so some close views were easily obtained.

                                           Heath Spotted-orchid - Dactylorhiza maculata

There were a few other bog plants to be found here, I do not have a great knowledge on plants but these were relatively easy to pick out.

Round leaf Sundew

The Boardwalk through the Main Bog at Hothfield

                    

                                                                       Bog Asphodel

Bog Pimpernel

Cotton Grass

On some of the smaller pools I could see a number of Dragonflies, I was hoping to see the Keeled Skimmers known to reside here, no males on view but at least three female Keeled Skimmers were darting around the pools, no chance of a photo, much too quick for my camera.

This female Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing was more accommodating.

Emperor Dragonfly

The notice board also claimed that Minotaur Beetles and Tiger Beetles reside here, but I didn't see any on this visit, I may return at a latter date to try and see the Keeled Skimmers and maybe a Beetle or two.

We did come across the ubiquitous herd of Konik ponies used by wildlife trusts to tackle the vegetation in those hard to reach places.

Konik Ponies at Hothfield

 Back to the Orchids , these Heath Spotted Orchids the main reason for my visit today did not disappoint in spite of there close resemblance to the Common Spotted. This Orchid another new species for both my life list and yearly list

Orchid Life List                                          2019 Orchid List

 Common Spotted Orchid                        Green Winged Orchid

 Early Purple Orchid                                Early Purple Orchid

Common Twayblade.                               Lady Orchid

Greater Butterfly Orchid                          Early Spider Orchid

 Lady Orchid                                            Fly Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid                                     Common Twayblade

 Bee Orchid                                              Man Orchid

Fragrant Orchid                                        Monkey Orchid

White Helleborine                                    White Helleborine

Southern Marsh Orchid                            Common Fragrant Orchid

Green Winged Orchid                               Bee Orchid

Early Spider Orchid                                  Southern Marsh Orchid

Fly Orchid                                                 Common Spotted Orchid

Man Orchid                                               Pyramidal Orchid

Monkey Orchid                                         Lizard Orchid
Birds Nest Orchid                                     Birds Nest Orchid
Lizard Orchid                                            Musk Orchid
Musk Orchid                                             Greater Butterfly Orchid
Heath Spotted Orchid                                Heath Spotted Orchid