Orchid Pollination

This Swollen-thighed female beetle has collected a large number of pollinia during its visit to Twayblade orchids and is having distinct trouble holding its head up! Also photographed at a local reserve -  Common Spotted Orchids, Roman snail and Tortoiseshell butterfly

 

Good Year for Man Orchids

 The Man Orchids at our local site are at their best at the moment. They are relatively short but in quite large clumps. It was quite breezy today so they deserve another visit this year along with the Common Spotted Orchids and Twayblades.

Azaleas at Leith Place, Surrey (National Trust)

The Azaleas were in full bloom at Leith Place on Sunday - a wonderful display but very difficult to capture on a very bright day. Azaleas belong to the Rhododendron family so all azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are Azaleas. Most Azaleas are deciduous, while most Rhododendrons are evergreen. Azaleas have tubular or funnel shaped flowers; Rhododendrons  are more bell shaped.

Leith Hill and Leith Place NT

A wonderful walk at Leith Hill in Surrey where the bright sunshine accentuated the fresh greens of the trees and ferns and the view from the Tower towards the South Downs was spectacular. After a 7-mile walk in the morning, I spent the afternoon at the very peaceful Leith Place, Ralph Vaughan Williams' home from the age of two till he was 20.

Dragons and Damsels at Paxton Pits

Paxton Pits was alive with Damselflies (Variable and Banded Demoiselles) and Dragons (Scarce Chaser, Norfolk Hawker, nymph case and adult sheltering in the hedgerow). Lots of other insects around - Soldier Beetle, Green-veined Butterfly and Cardinal Beetle.

Insects at Whixall Moss

In the afternoon at Whixall, most of the group on the RPS outing concentrated on the abundant wildlife around the pools by the canal at Whixall. My highlight was this Blue Shieldbug laying eggs on a piece of roof felting used as a ground shelter for reptiles etc.