Friends of Groyne No.4: The Vercors in Spring

Not so much a blog of the tour more a gallery of the week spent in the Vercors Natural Park based at La Chapelle en Vercors. I deliberately didn't take any field notes so rather than by location they are presented chronologically - hence the repeats. I will mention one location - Font d'Durle where the slopes were covered in a huge array of botany. So my trip was a series of rambles photographing whatever took my fancy.

Early Purple Orchid, Orchis mascula - very fresh at an altitude of about 1500m or 4.921 feet in old money.

Early Purple Orchid, Orchis mascula

There were literally thousands of Elderflower Orchids, Dactylorhiza sambucina in both colour forms, the yellows outnumbering the purples by a long chalk - as usual.

Elderflower Orchid, Dactylorhiza sambucina

The obligatory shot of both forms alongside each other.

Elderflower Orchid, Dactylorhiza sambucina

Plenty of Bird's Nest Orchids, Neottia nidus-avis though none in full bloom

Bird's Nest Orchid, Neottia nidus-avis

Burnt Orchid, Neotinea ustulata

Sharp eyed Lindsay spotted these magnificent Lady Orchids, Orchis purpurea

Lady Orchids, Orchis purpurea

Lady Orchids, Orchis purpurea

This orchid was the focus of much discussion, just two stems found growing amongst Dactylorhiza majalis, the Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid. Subsequently it was found to be Early Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza incarnata. I have to say I have never seen one like this before, for what I would expect to see try here

Early Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza incarnata.

Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza majalis

I'm glad that I photographed this rather spindly specimen of Orchis pallens as others we found subsequently were toast in the ever increasing temperatures.

Orchis pallens

Roadside banks were populated by numerous Sword-leaved Helleborine, Cephalanthera longifolia. Some impressive spikes were seen.

Sword-leaved Helleborine, Cephalanthera longifolia

A new one for me - Orchis tridentata

Orchis tridentata

Monkey Orchid, Orchis simia

Monkey Orchid, Orchis simia

Military Orchid, Orchis militaris

Something familiar

Man Orchid, Orchid anthropophora

Late Spider Orchid, Ophrys fuciflora

Green- winged Orchid, Anacamptis morio

Fly Orchid, Ophrys insectifera

Ophrys drumana

The Violet Limodore or Violet Bird's-nest Orchid, Limodorum abortivum. One that I missed on Rhodes as the goats had devoured them. Nice to make its acquaintance here.