Orchids in Kent

Today was an early season foray into deepest Kent. More of a recce trip to familarise ourselves with some of the main orchid sites. An early start left us plenty of time to have a long walk around Denge Forest, the truth is that I had lost my bearings and we were lost too. 

First up was Bonsai Bank, a place that I visited mid May last year and I knew that we should catch up with some early Lady Orchids and hopefully a Duke of Burgundy butterfly as a bonus.  And so it proved, lots of emerging orchids,one or two almost in full flower and some cracking newly emerged Dukes.

Why do they always get a bit of  grass over the wing?

We also found evidence of other orchids,  Common Twayblades were well on their way and Greater Butterfly were not far behind. Early Purples were in good numbers but starting to go over.


Next site was Yockletts Bank, we only circumnavigated the northern section but managed to find more Lady Orchids, lots of Common Twayblades and just a single Fly Orchid. Had we been more diligent I am sure we could have found more Fly Orchids but we were early in the season and we wanted to press on.

There can be a wide variation in colour

A bonus Green Hairstreak

Third Venue was Park Gate Down were we found a host of Early Purple Orchids and precious little else. Another couple of weeks and the EPOs will have disappeared, to be replace by Monkey and Fly Orchids.

Final venue was Samphire Hoe, two reasons to pay a visit. Firstly the Early Spider Orchids but more importantly to have a cup of tea at the cafe. When we arrived we surveyed the area and Martin stated that it was a large area to cover and wondered where we might find the orchids. No problem - we asked the cheerful wardens who directed us to the overflow car park. Sure enough in the central circle of the car park and beneath the low wooden fence on the perimeter were plenty of ESOs. Click, click, click - job done and time for tea.

All in all a great day out which will make our visit in a fortnight's time much easier and give us the opportunity to visit one or two extra venues.

Some from earlier in the week, Pearl-bordered Fritillaries from the main ride of Rewell Wood in West Sussex - an annual event to witness their emergence.

Orchids in Kent

Birders look away now - this blog is all about plants! 

Most of my trips out with the camera are about birds or butterflies, occasionally other insects get some attention but a day hunting for orchids is a bit of a rarity. So, when Greenwings advertised a day out with Jon Dunn, he of Orchid Summer fame, then I grasped the opportunity and signed up straight away.

I rose early on a fine day and made my way via extremely quiet motorways to deepest, darkest Kent.The Royal Wedding was distracting everyone and I guessed it would be quiet everywhere, a double bonus as a long day in the field meant that I would avoid all the television coverage - bliss.

I arrived in the charming village of Wye, just east of Ashford, parked up and went for a stroll around the churchyard. Hopes of a Redstart or Spotted Flycatcher amongst the forest of headstones were dashed so I occupied the visitor's bench and waited for the others to arrive.  Andy and Sally arrived to keep me company and we chewed the fat about nature matters until Jon herded us all together into the mini bus and we were off.

All the venues we visited have public access, most are well known and we made no visits to private land. Of course what we did have was Jon, whose knowledge is immeasurable and Alfie, the man with the deep local gen.

What follows is my photo-diary of the day, all in chronological order, probably far too many photos for a blog.



First stop was Denge Wood and the aptly named " Bonsai Bank" so named due to an unsuccessful attempt to grow conifers. No matter it is now a stunning location for Lady Orchids, here there are hundreds. With a supporting cast of Early Purple, Common Twayblade, Greater Butterfly and White Helleborine it could keep the enthusiast occupied for a day - or more.

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea, a light "champagne" coloured specimen

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea, a really dark specimen

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea, a really dark specimen

It seemed that those growing in shade developed more "spots"

The spots are composed of tufts of papillae

Supposedly like "Angels"

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea, var albida

Lady Orchid,  Orchis purpurea, var albida - using Andy's black trousers as a background.

Finally - the largest spike I could find.

A tad early for the Greater Butterfly Orchids, Platanthera chlorantha

  

Similarly for the White Helleborine, Cephalanthera damasonium

Though I managed to record one open bloom.

Common Twayblades,  Neottia ovata  were everywhere - spiders love them.

Common Twayblade

Common Twayblade

Common Twayblade

Butterflies added an extra dimension, Duke of Burgundy, Green Hairstreak and Brimstones all on the wing.

Duke of Burgundy

Green Hairstreak

For balance, having seen so many Lady Orchids it was time to record some Man Orchids, Orchis anthroprophora.

Man Orchid, Orchis anthroprophora

Man Orchid, Orchis anthroprophora

Man Orchid, Orchis anthroprophora

Man Orchid, Orchis anthroprophora

After all the excitement it was nice to have a lunch break at the Tickled Trout in Wye, then it was back out on the trail.

The first venue in the afternoon kicked off the excitement all over again, a single specimen of the rare Late Spider Orchid, Ophrys fuciflora   conveniently in bloom early.

Late Spider Orchid, Ophrys fuciflora

Late Spider Orchid, Ophrys fuciflora

Late Spider Orchid, Ophrys fuciflora

Late Spider Orchid, Ophrys fuciflora

Late Spider Orchid, Ophrys fuciflora

Late Spider Orchid, Ophrys fuciflora

Queuing patiently to record a rarity.

After that we just had to find Early Spider Orchid, Ophrys sphegodes  most of the specimens we found were just past their best, top blooms only in reasonable condition.

Early Spider Orchid, Ophrys sphegodes

Early Spider Orchid, Ophrys sphegodes

Early Spider Orchid, Ophrys sphegodes

The final venue gave us Monkey Orchids, Orchis simia, Fly Orchids, Orchis insectifera and some fresher Early Purples, Orchis mascula.

Monkey Orchid, Orchis simia

Monkey Orchid, Orchis simia

Monkey Orchid, Orchis simia

Monkey Orchid, Orchis simia

Early Purple Orchid, Orchis mascula

Fly Orchid, Orchis insectifera 

Fly Orchid, Orchis insectifera 

Fly Orchid, Orchis insectifera 

Fly Orchid, Orchis insectifera 

Fly Orchid, Orchis insectifera 

Fly Orchid, Orchis insectifera 

Fly Orchid, Orchis insectifera 

Fly Orchid, Orchis insectifera 

Then we had run out of time, arriving back in Wye after 18:00, the end of a great day. Though I have a suspicion that most of us would have carried on until dark.