Chorlton Water Park 23rd June 2019 ( SJ 82300 91851 )

Having read the leaflets about this park, and seen that orchids can be found here, it seems to be a new location to go hunting. It is situated just off the M60, but looks like management has dropped off a bit. The visitor centre is  locked and cluttered with allsorts of stuff. It does seem to be an  `activity area' rather than a country park, so we'll have to be on the lookout for mad psycholists. Nevertheless we do find a few Southern Marsh Orchids, Common Spotted Orchids, Dactylorhiza hybrid or two, and a solitary and lonely Bee Orchid. Not worth a second visit.

Dunham Massey 23d June 2019 (SJ 73284 87466)

A stop here for a drink and a bite to eat is an opportunity to look at the pair of Bee Orchids growing near the visitor centre. Not worth writing home about!

Neumann's Flash 23rd June 2019 (SJ666749)

With a bit of time on our hands we divert here to see how things are. The Marsh Fragrant Orchids near the bird hides are rather thin on the ground and a week or more off flowering. A couple of Northern Marsh Orchids are past their best. So, it isn't worth the walk to other parts of the Anderton Country Park. All in all a rather uninspiring day.

Ainsdale Dunes 24th June 2019 (SD 29478 12244)

For the previous two years we have jumped the gun at this site and visited at the start of June. This week does seem to be the one for orchids. You are greeted as you cross from the beach car park by scores of Pyramidal  Orchids in the drier sandier areas, then as you reach the damper slacks there are even more pink and red dune forms of the Early Marsh Orchid. They do seem to live up to the wetter part of their common name.

Then there are a good number of Southern Marsh Orchids, some going over now and thers quite large. Naturally there are Dactylorhiza hybrids including a couple of D. x grandis (another living up to its title), despite us seeing absolutely no Common Spotted Orchids, and others that could be D x wintoni taking into account of what commonly grows here. However these do not have the recurved labella of the EMO parent, but do have some rather bold and striking lip marking.

Of note is the numbers of Dune Helleborines growing near the marked path. Saw a couple on previous visits, but now later in the month they are  very apparent and could be worth a visit in a few weeks. Despite their  common name, this species is associated more with woodland; birch or  pines to be precise. Out here it must be the dwarf willow that helps sustain them. The Marsh Helleborines are just coming out, and will put on a great show in about a week

I had hoped to spot some Bee Orchids, but to no  avail. So guess what? A day after posting photos on a forum I am informed that there were many to be seen this summer. Where-o-where are  they?

Hightown 24th June 2019

We have been here before to  see the ancient sunken forest that is exposed at low tide. But the maps show dunes south of the village, so a stop by on the way home is in order. Unfortunately my map is old and the housing estates have spread  over must or the area. There is still unused land but only one each of  Southern Marsh and Early Marsh Orchid are seen. There must be more  somewhere, but is it worth the search? No!

Cors Erddreiniog 28th June 2019

A second visit here, this time approaching from the `tradesman's entrance' from the lane, not Capel Coch. Immediately we are greeted by roadside Common Spotted Orchids. These are a feature of the visit, growing in numbers wherever the ground is suitable. There are some nice  rather striking lip markings on some, and some white forms - var albiflora, as well as a variety of lip shapes.

Next up we start to see Heath Spotted Orchids, many pale and delicate looking, but a few with more pronounced markings. There are perhaps even more HSOs than CSOs here, so naturally there will be the hybrid of the two; D x transiens.

There is no sign of any of the Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchids because, presumably, we are too late,  and looking through acres of long grass and the like for fruiting stems  is not my idea of fun. There are still some Northern Marsh Orchids just about still in flower, and examples of Dactylorhiza hybrids each and  every combination but significantly those between the Northern Marsh and Heath Spotted Orchids; D. x formosa.

What we don't see is the Lesser  Butterfly and Fly Orchids we specifically came to see. I had directions but these just didn't work out. Others orchid hunters are successful. Next time, if there is a next time, I  will have an exact grid reference.

Newborough Warren 28th June 2019 (SH 43192 64027)

This place is certainly not the same as its glory days in the 1980s, when I  first visited. There are a few Northern Marsh Orchids, and some Early  Marsh ssp cocinnea to be found. The Marsh Helleborines are just coming  into flower, but numbers must be down, otherwise they would be more obvious. and of course there are Common Spotted Orchids, some virtually pure white, Common Twayblades, and what seems to be a Heath Spotted Orchid.

However, Newborough is said to be one of the haunts of the Welsh Marsh Orchid. This currently is classed as a sub-species of the Northern Marsh Orchid, but despite the molecular  evidence I would not be surprised if it were a full species. These examples could well be claimed to be the D. x venusta hybrid, yet none show the typical hybrid vigour one could expect. Also, they do show some sort of consistency, espicially the absence of spotted leaves, supporting their existence as a distinct taxon.

Brymbo Pool 29th June 2019 (SJ 28740 53724)

Situated at the back of Brymbo and formerly the far end of the steel works, the pool itself is favoured by anglers. However just inside the gates is a delightful mass of Common Spotted Orchids. They really do look good  en-masse. A search also reveals a few Bee Orchids too. Meanwhile, under the trees at one end of the pool are some Epipactis spikes in bud. While these are most likely Broad-leaved Helleborines, especially from leaf shape and colour, and the fact that this species is known to grow in a couple of spots with a mile. However, the leaves are mainly arranged in  opposites, rather than around the stem. This and the Alyn Waters like  habitat make me wonder if they are Dune Helleborines. I intend to come back at flowering time.

Sweeney Fen 30th June 2019 (SJ2746525025)

Why do I keep coming here when it is squoggy underfoot and I have already lost one mobile phone in the reeds? Because not only do the Marsh Fragrant Orchids smell so fantastic, but I am ever hopeful of finding a hybrid of one of these with the Common Spotted Orchids, which are having a bumper year here in 2019. Of course, I do not find that hybrid. The Fragrants  are quite diverse in inflorescence form and shape. Some are columnar with densely packed with individual flowers, while others are more conical with a very loose spike. The latter must be more atypical  because the species name is densiflora after all.

Perhaps I a few days early to see the Marsh Helleborines at their best, as they do not stand out as much as previously. There are  Southern Marsh Orchids and hybrids with the Common Spotted too, with some examples showing introgression back to one parent or the other.

Scabby Rock 30th June 2019 (SJ 27412 24217)

Just a flying visit as we are in the area and can park 100 yards from the  track. There seems to be a lot more Pyramidal Orchids this year, all  growing uncharacteristically under the trees with rale pale flowers and  tall lanky stems. Only five Greater Butterfly Orchids are obvious, but it may well be these are just the late flowerers n their last legs. A few Common Spotted Orchids

 
The wraith-like Pyramidals, and one seemingly with unusual leaves