Minera Quarry, 24th June 2007

A trip to this quarry is bound to provide plenty of orchid sightings and we make the best of it. First we find the Broad-leaved Helleborines growing below the sheer quarry walls on the right as you enter. They are not in flower yet, and the spike is typically bent over. They will be quite magnificent when they do flower as they tend to grow in clumps all along this margin. On the aerial view at the bottom of this entry it is marked as site A

The main orchid area seems to be further on where the quarry peters out at the far end on grassy slopes. Here are Common Spotteds, Northern Marsh, possible Dactylorhiza hybrids, Common Twayblades (always difficult to focus on as the camera wants to focus on the ground behind rather than the sparse flower spike), Pyramidal Orchids and a couple of Fragrant Orchids not yet open but recognisable from their pink colouration. There is no was of telling which form of Fragrant Orchid this is yet. This area is marked as site B on the map.

Close to here there is what appears to be a farm cattle track leading to grassland. A number of what suspect are Dactylorhiza hybrids grow here. Site C

Finally we go exploring! A gate opens to a tarmaced lane, but on the left are footpaths that wind up the steep quarry sides eventually depositing us above the quarry and below the hill above the village of Gwynfryn. Here are patches of rabbit cropped turf and bare limestone. Very peaceful and isolated. This is where the Fragrant Orchids abound, together with more Twayblades. This is also the area where many moons ago I found Frog Orchids, in a single area, close to a path and shaded by bracken. An intense search reveals none of these however. This is site D.

Cors Bodeilio, 19th June 2007

Cors Bodeilio is a managed reserve in the badlands of Anglesey. Thankfully wooden walkways are provided for visitors or I would have had the option of distant photos or very wet feet. There is quite a range of orchids in flower here today. I spot the inevitable Common Spotted Orchid, but there is a very large white form that totally confuses my camera. The Northern Marsh Orchids are very vivid here, and the Marsh Helleborines seem to be quite early in flower. There is also some nice Early Marsh ssp incarnata in a totally different habitat to those seen yesterday, and the odd Heath Spotted. Looking back over these photos I wonder if I need a better camera or more practice. I have had to throw away so many close-ups and am left with more distant shots that do the orchids no justice. All shots of the couple of Fragrant Orchids seen had to go in the trash can.

Then there is the species we came especially to see - Narrow Leaved Marsh Orchid (I just do not like the more modern Pugsley's Marsh naming of this species) aka D. traunsteineroides. Its nice to know that this species is endemic to the UK, and very particular where it grows. Well, at least I think this is it; it is growing well away from the walkway and I have zoom in to see it clearer. The leaves look narrow, and the flower seems to conform to the description, especially the sparse flower spike. It is a shame I can see only one example, and there is no-one else here to ask.

Newborough, Anglesey, 19th June 2007

A return to sites that I have been to on multiple occasions before, but not for a few years, as part of a journey up the West Wales coast taking in orchid sites amongst other delights. Its tempting to divide the area into two parts. Firstly there is Newborough Warren proper - which usually involves a trek across a mile of paths (usually in intense sunshine) through a sand dune landscape with dune slacks that do not seem to have changed over the years. But they have! I remember finding Common Butterworts in one place where they are absent now, but they are quite prolific in a quite different area. But back to the orchids. They are quite numerous here, but sadly all are relatively common and in all honesty I could find all these within a few miles of home. Northern Marsh, Common Spotted, Heath Spotted, Common Twayblade. The must be or was a Southern Marsh Orchid population because one specimen appear to be D x grandis. There is a sizable population of Marsh Helleborines though these are not in flower just yet, but I am most interested in one specimen that fulfills the criteria for D. cambriensis. Whether this is a true species or whether this specimen is a Common Spotted x Northern Marsh hybrid, or just a variation of the NMO is debatable. The leaves and bracts are nicely spotted, and quite unlike the typical NMO, but the flowers quite unlike the CSO. I am following Delforge`s book, but while he does list just about everything there is a tendency to promote every variety to full species status. My photo does not do it justice

                   x grandis           Northern Marsh              Marsh Helleborines                       in the dunes

Is this D. cambriensis?
rubbish photo!

After the trek across the dunes its back into the car, head off to Newborough village and turn left for the forest road to the beach area car park. We have been here before and noticed the Helleborines growing in the shelter of the trees. These we soon find and though not in flower yet it is apparent that these are Dune Helleborines; pale or apple green leaves in two rows. These are scattered around in the pine trees to the north of the car park, together with some solitary Northern Marsh Orchids. In the more open areas is quite a good display of Pyramidal Orchids.

Dune Helleborine       Dune Helleborine            Northern Marsh          The Pyramidals

Typical orchid habitat here

Ynys Las, 18th June 2007

This is the place where my passion for wild orchids got ignited, and I have been here a good few times in the meantime, but this is my first visit with a digital camera. Typically, as this is Wales, it is raining. Its only when I get back that I find that some of the photos are spoiled by drops on the lens.

In the main dune slacks the D. incarnata ssp incarnata are putting on a good display this year with some parts carpetted pink. There fewer D. incarnata ssp coccinea though there are some nice robust examples; these two subspecies appear to prefer slightly different areas within the slacks with coccinea growing more at the edges which are marginally more raised. D. praetermissa grows tall in the grass on the periphery, while E. palustris is just coming into flower in what must be the slightly damper areas. And this visit`s surprise is the discovery of Ophrys apifera away from the slacks growing on a dune side closer to the beach but on the land-ward side. The visitor centre and leaflets have always made a thing about the Bee orchids here but this is first time we have managed to find any. Plenty of A. pyramidalis in flower too, and some D. purpurella too.

                   D. incarnata incarnata            ditto in closeup  D. incarnata coccinea          D.praetermissa

                 E. palustris           O. apifera          A. pyramidalis                  Mixed species              D. purpurella

Dune slacks in the rain

Buckley Common, 13th June 2007

I discovered this site many years ago, but this is my first visit for some considerable time, and I am wondering if it will still be as good as it was. As it turns out I think the orchids are actually more prolific now; they must have multiplied over the years. I have to say my original notes are rather inaccurate. I have mention of Heath Spotted Orchid where Common Spotteds are growing. I make no mention of hybrids while many of those here must be. Perhaps its changed over the years, but more likely I was not making proper identifications.
I see hybrids galore, Common Spotted orchids, and some I think may be Northern Marsh Orchids. Unfortunately it is raining quite hard and the ground is already quite soggy with puddles. I do not venture far into the actual common itself as I do not want soaking wet feet and this is a stop-over on the way elsewhere. I will return.