30th April 2016 Great Orme Golf Course (SH7743982592)

This location is a family pitch and putt nine hole course squeezed in on the townward side of the Orme, just above Haulfre Gardens. I wouldn't have thought of looking there, but a post elsewhere mentioned Green-winged Orchids here, and said that the changes to the mowing to protect the plants may be causing perennial grasses to choke them out.
We didn't find many. They were in the longer grass behind the tee for hole four and on the mowed `fairway' below green five. All were rather stunted and not not fully out, but the third one shown, that grew in the mowed area, would possibly be a great plant if it could develop. However it is likely to be trodden on (despite no-one actually playing golf even on a Saturday) or get trimmed.

This site is likely to fade away in my opinion, and if you go to look, remember that it can be quite breezy up there!

13th May 2016 Eryrys and nearby

While the primary aim on this trip was to scout out a new area for Early Purples, we dropped in on the old workings to see how the Frog Orchids were developing, in view of the mixed weather we are having this year. In 2013 they were in full flower mid June, but at the same stage in mid May 2014. In 2015 which probably had typical weather, they were out in the third week of May, with the large specimens a week or two later. The large ones today were barely pushing the flower buds out, but some of the smaller paler coloured plants were just coming into flower. Could here be a good place to look for a hybrid with the Common Spotteds in June? I shall return!

Afterwards we took the track over the other side of the road and then veered off up the hillside that used to house Graig Quarry. A small group of Early Purple Orchids was seen within a field of bullocks, before a colony of some 75 actually living on the footpath were found. Wonder that they hadn't been trampled. But on reaching the hill top, on the northeast facing slopes it was apparent that this was the main colony. Many hundreds were seen, never densely packed, from small to some large mature plants, and mainly showing little colour variation. A few still in bud show that the purple colouration develops late in the maturing flowers. Worth a visit for the views too.

Not bad for an expedition on Friday 13th!

13th May 2016 Bwlchgwyn

Approaching the village (formerly the highest village in Wales), two bends before the first houses, there is a verge sporting a small colony of Early Purple Orchids. This is under a mile from those growing at Gwynfryn. There used to be geological site at the other end of the village, which from memory, would be ideal for more of these. Alas, a small estate of bungalows has sprung up there, but chances are that other groups will be growing in the locality.

16th May 2016 Loggerheads Country Park (SJ 1963063077)

Loggerheads has deciduous woodland, a river and a a limestone gorge. Climb up to the top for great views of the Clwydian range. Loggerheads had been quite industrial in the past due to lead mining. In fact it used to be no-mans land but when lead was found there, both Flintshire and Denbighshire claimed the land was their's and were at loggerheads over it - hence the name. Geologically it belongs to the same rock formations as Minera Quarry and Eryrys, albeit via shifted faults. So why such a dearth of orchids compared to them? I have only noticed Common Spotted here before, back in 2011 and earlier. A quest for Green Flowered Helleborines there came to nought despite BSBI data saying they are recorded there, though I have seen them in woods a couple of miles downstream.
Anyway, a May visit might yield something. I kept a lookout for any of last year's spike of Bird's-nest Orchid, but no luck - they should be here if the orchid grows here. However there were a few Early Purple Orchids so the orchid tally here has doubled. This group seemed well established, and grew in a ring around the trunk of a young tree. Note the mix of spotted and unspotted leaves, so the group is not solely derived from vegetative reproduction.

19th May 2016 Alyn Waters Country Park

A short trip to Alyn Waters, before the expected rain started, is purely for the current state of play. The Bee Orchids' rosettes are quite noticeable and the flower spikes just stating to poke above ground. The Common Spotted Orchids lag behind but many rosettes are quite obvious. Common Twayblades are everywhere, pushing up flower spikes, in great seemingly greater numbers than previously. This is probably because they have the jump on a lot of other vegetation which will mask them to an extent in a couple of weeks. There is no sign of the Fragrant Orchids or any Helleborines, but this is only to be expected. so nothing exciting at all.