Flowers at Barnack Hills and Holes

Although our RPS Nature Group found plenty to photograph at Barnack Hills and Holes yesterday, the dry conditions have had a very bad effect on the flora with very few orchids compared to other years (eg only one very small Man Orchid). The Pasque flowers were still putting on a good show with all different stages still present but the Early Purple Orchids were past their best. I resisted going on an invertebrate hunt and concentrated on flowers but there were lots of incidentals like the beetle on the Rock rose, the small spider on the orchid and the small Hymenopteran on the Pasque Flower.

Royston Heath - Record Number of Bee Orchids

It was too windy on Church Hill yesterday to do full justice to the wonderful display of Bee and Fragrant Orchids in full bloom at the moment with just the occasional Pasque Flower remaining. I saw a single Adonis Blue and about 4 Marbled Whites and we were entertained by a hovering Buzzard and a very active Mistle Thrush.

Pasque Flowers for Easter

The Pasque flowers are out early on Royston Heath and are there in large numbers. It was a bit windy today for flower photography but I enjoyed trying a few different techniques and also finding some mini creatures - spiders, snails, fly, caterpillar and a Red-tailed Mason bee that makes its nest in snail's shells!

Barnack Hills and Holes

The storm clouds gathered during our afternoon at Barnack Hills and Holes Reserve but the rain stayed away. Lots of Early Spotted Orchids, Pasque Flowers and Man Orchids to photograph. 

Royston Heath Pasque Flowers

We made our annual pilgrimage to Royston Heath to see the Pasque flowers late yesterday afternoon. Not the best conditions as very windy so focus stacks were difficult/ A very good year in terms of numbers of flowers though they have been damaged by the frosts and winds.