Sandwich Bay

I have got a bit behind on reporting my wildlife encounters, so time to catch up. A trip down to Sandwich Bay, the main objective to see another new Orchid which is particularly fond of  damp grassland and dune slacks, the Marsh Helleborine.

View across Sandwich Bay

With the necessary permissions to view the area where the Orchids grow and on a gloriously sunny day, I was soon in position viewing the Marsh Helleborine where I must admit grow in some profusion. This is probably the best looking native Orchid I have seen to date, Butterflies and wasps were everywhere, and I had a great time watching a smallish wasp called a 'Crabro cribrarius'

 So first a look at the Marsh Helleborine together with a few Southern Marsh Orchids still in flower.

Southern Marsh Orchid & Marsh Helleborine

And here's the Digger type wasp that's quite common at Sandwich Bay

Crabro cribrarius

You can see how as each Wasp visited the flowers of the Marsh Helleborine a small package of pollina sticks to the wasps forehead.

A good selection of Butterflies on view, always nice to try and get a photograph of a Butterfly on an Orchid. But the Butterflies not really playing ball today.

A shy Painted Lady on a fading Marsh orchid

Marbled White on Red Clover

Small Copper

Meadow Brown on a Southern Marsh Orchid

Common Blue on an emerging Marsh helleborine

A battered Brown Argus

Essex Skipper in Kent

Honeysuckle

Last of the Lizard Orchids

Sea Holly, Eryngium maritimum.

unknown Leaf Cutter type Bee

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
Late Spider Orchid                                    Late Spider Orchid
Marsh Helleborine                                    Marsh Helleborine

21 Species

Painted Lady !

It was about this time of the year, maybe a week earlier, that I had a close encounter with a Silver Washed Fritillary at Shorne Country Park around the fishing lakes.

 So with some spare time, thought I would check the area out again, I found the Hemp Agrimony growing on the banks of the fishing lake which attracted the Fritillary last year,  the flowers not quite open which was disappointing,but a Fritillary seeing flying around the treetops close by, was more than likely the Silver Washed Fritillary and felt promising.

Another visit required, as I made my way around the lake a butterfly flew into view, not the Fritillary but a Painted Lady.

Up to now most of my Painted Lady encounters have been with very faded and rather tatty individuals, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this Painted Lady Butterfly in pristine condition, unusally this one kept its wings tightly closed giving  some nice views of the underwing, and, as the sun suddenly came out from behind a cloud, the Butterfly open its wings to reveal the gorgeous colours of its upper wings.

Mystery tour to Wye !

I have been exploring so many new sites in Kent at the moment, I find myself falling behind in reporting my sightings on this blog.

 My first Orchid sighting this year was the Early Spider Orchid, so I thought it would be nice to may be finish off with the Late Spider Orchid.

Early Spider Orchid seen in May 2019 at another site

Orchid Enthusiasts are quite protective on the whereabouts of some of these scarcer Orchids, with good reason I might add, so I count myself fortunate to  have received  some information on where, If I was lucky I may still find a Late Spider Orchid in flower, as they were reaching the end of their flowering season.

This was in a lovely part of the Kent Downs called Wye. The directions I were given were very good, unfortunately the street signage not so good,  but  I eventually arrived at the right place and very quickly found the Late Spider Orchids, most in protective cages, and as Orchid enthusiasts say 'have gone over' meaning that the flowering spike was finished. but there were still a few remaining flowers to be seen. I think another few days and they would be gone too, so I was very fortunate to see them.

Next year I hope to see them in their prime.

Late Spider Orchid

Late Spider Orchid

Late Spider Orchid

These Late Spider Orchids when first seen look very much like the Bee Orchid, the patterning can be very variable which does not help, the important I.D. factor here is the shape of the lower lip
The photo below was of an Bee Orchid growing in the same vicinity as the Late Spiders, which I must admit caused me some confusion, but the shape of the lower lip being more rounded is quite obvious to me now.

Bee Orchid.

I thought these Late Spider Orchids would be the last seen this year, but still some other species to see in the form of Helleborines.

Bit of a ' Stag Do '

I've had years when I have not seen a Stag Beetle, this year I have had four sightings, three of which have been in my garden.

 Not sure if this has had anything to do with it , but a couple of years ago I placed a number of vertical logs in the garden as suggested by one of the conservation groups to provide a home for Stag Beetles to lay their eggs.

Coincidence probably, although like to think I have done my bit for the Stag Beetles, you never know.

First sighting was of two males on the lawn, early evening, I nearly stepped on them. one of them larger than the other. after photographing them I placed them on the log pile, where on checking later both had moved on.

Male Stag Beetles 

Sighting number three came a few days latter, another fine Stag Beetle this one under my mature Pear tree, this time a female. all these sightings were early evening between 17:00 - 18:00 hours on a warm sunny evening.

female Stag Beetle

My fourth sighting was of a male Stag Beetle in flight as I walked my dog early in the morning, flew straight towards me causing me to duck out of the way.

Always nice to see this magnificent Beetle.

Annual Pilgrimage !

Its at this time of year I try and fit in a visit to Lullingstone Country Park,  it's the only reliable site I know to see the Dark Green Fritillary.
There's always plenty of other Butterflies to try and get some interesting photographs of, especially the Marbled Whites.

The Dark Green Butterflies seem to be attracted to area of  rough ground rich in wild flowers at the bottom of an area called the Orchid Bank, although to be honest haven't seen that many Orchids there,  a few Pyramidal, Fragrant and the odd Common Spotted Orchid, the area is surrounded by a golf course and some beautiful Kentish countryside.

The Dark Green Fritillary  seem to find the Greater Knapweed irresistible as I have mentioned in previous years visits. find the Knapweed and there's a good chance the Fritillaries will turn up, that is if the sun is shining.

So before I get on to these, a look at the Marbled Whites, I was particularly pleased with this photograph and the close encounter the Marbled White  Butterfly had with the Crab Spider waiting  to ambush the unsuspecting visitors to the flower heads. the Crab Spider I believe is possibly Xysticus cristatus, no common name for this one.

Marbled White male.

These flowers must be rich in nectar , competition is fierce, not only from other Butterflies but honey Bees as well.

I always end up with far to many images which I would like to post, but thats impractical so I'll just try and chose my favourites of the Dark Green Fritillary

Dark Green fritillary

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A fine supporting cast also visiting these flowers included the following. starting with this photograph of some Meadow Brown Butterflies, a Red Tailed Bumble bee and another crab spider.

Common Blue

Large Skipper.

Small Skipper.

 Worn Brown Argus

Small Heath

I had hoped to see some Banded Demoiselles along the river bank as I returned to the car park but the beautiful sunny morning was coming to an end as some rather ominous looking black clouds suddenly appeared. I did manage to see a few Common Blue Damselflies though as the session came to and end.

Common Blue Damselfly