Gop Hill 18th and 23rd August 2019 (SJ 08790 80005)

It's that time of the year when one cannot wait for the Autumn Lady's-tresses to appear, but know that they herald the end of the UK orchid season. That is, barring a chance discover of a Ghost Orchid (some chance!). Gop Hill was a wonder last year, but this year surpasses that. The ALTs are growing over a much wider area; higher on the slopes and down below the entry path too. They are in groups of five or more and in the far corners of the field. Ragwort does seem to be invading, but that is attracting lepidoptera, so cannot be all bad. I reckon there must be over 10,000 ALTs here. It is hard to counmt them because so many are still yet to come. Gop Hill must rate as a premier site for these orchids.

Great Orme 24th August 2019 (SH 77023 82312)

It is bank holiday weekend and so to avoid any traffic holdups on the A55 we go to Llandudno by train and walk to where the Autumn Lady's-tresses grow on Great Orme. Sadly, the show is just typical of here; nothing like the profusion of Gop Hill. However, scanning the slopes I think I can them growing scattered higher up than the vicinity of the path, but the slopes are very dry and attempts to have a look are thwarted by the gradient and the fact that ALTs are hard to see looking down at them. We do consider going to the pitch-and-put course where we have seen Green-Winged Orchids a few years ago, but even after a cold drink it is just too hot and wearing to attempt the steep paths on an off chance of a few ALTS.

Llanymynech Quarries 25th August 2019 (SJ2677421890)

It has been a few years since we have look for Autumn Lady's-tresses - five years in fact and I am not 100% certain where we saw them in the Welsh Quarry. In the end it not too long before we find scattered individual plants; some 25 or so in all. Later I find that there is a much better spot to the west above the Offa's Dyke path, so that's a place to look another year. yet another case of finding something good about an orchid site after the event. It has happened so many times this year.

Pwll Melyn 28th August 2019 (SJ 18145 71892)

We come to this flower meadow SSSI on Halkyn Mountain after a tip off for Autumn Lady's-tresses (thanks Terry), but find absolutely none, despite searching virtually every corner of the field. There are some seedheads of Common Spotted Orchids, hence the mention here. Additionally, it would seem to be a good bet for Green-winged Orchids in the spring. Not a total disappointment because it was awash with colour.

Rhyd y Foel 2nd September 2019 (SH 91209 76282)

We came here in April and discovered Early Purple Orchids, and now hear that Autumn Lady's Tresses are also here, albeit further up the track, out of the copse, and below the hill fort. And there are hundreds. Nothing like as densely populated as Gop Hill, but perhaps over a larger area of ground. We find pockets of them here and there are we trace the track and veer off to likely grassy areas. Could be also worth a springtime visit for Green-winged Orchids too.

And that will be about it for orchids and 2019.

Time to start preparing for 2020.