I Love Arnside and Silverdale: Graylings, Warblers and lots of Orchids (6th Aug 2017

Sunday 6 August 2017

Graylings, Warblers and lots of Orchids (6th Aug 2017

Looking back to last Friday, on my way up to the orchid fields (fell), I had a large roving party of birds all flitting across my path and included many small Warblers (Willow Warblers/Chiffchaffs) which again made up "a confusion of Warblers" but not only warblers but also lots and lots of various tits and also a considerable amount of Chaffinch. I wonder if these were the same party I witnessed a week ago!

Also over the week I have had lots of screaming Jays, I think they may have been young birds, but just sounded like something being "throttled". Also on the Fell itself several young Green Woodpeckers, I can see why they hang about on the fell with all those juicy ants everywhere!

Butterflies included Meadow Browns, Red Admirals, Green Veined Whites and lots and lots of the beautiful Graylings. I must have seen hundreds of Grayling over the years, but up until today I had never ever seen the upperside of one, and today I had two brushed past me in a glide at such a close distance I was actually able to see the upperside and what a beauty they are.

Grayling Butterfly (upperside)

And now for a run down of the week's orchids which is quickly coming to a close and maybe a few more photos before we need to call it a day for yet another year, but what a fabulous year it as been!

Saturday 5th August 2017 - Hutton Roof 0900hrs to 1400hrs

Several photos today, I did manage to get one or two more of the Purpurea No.1

Purpurea No.1 on 5th August 2017 (Click over to enlarge)

I did a good scout around the area and noticed that there were two more helleborines near to this one that had been "deercut" previously.

Also managed to get this photo of the same plant

This is yet another of the most beautiful "Purpurea 1"

Welcome to "Lempet-ell"

I have not yet worked it out! but this is now the third E. Helleborine that I have found so far this year on Hutton Roof which is showing the pale "Lemon-Petals". I had thought that this was purely a "atrorubens" thing but there again maybe not!

A lovely large helleborine found today quite close to the variagated specimen

A lovely "Helleborine" found today quite close to variagated (Click over to enlarge)

Another nice helleborine found today west of the bottom copse

A lovely helleborine found today 5th August 2017 check out close up below

A close up of the same helleborine (Click over to enlarge

Another nice helleborine which lies on the NW side of the lower copse.

A nice helleborine (Click over to enlarge) and check next photo below for close up

Showing Black Mite infestation on this poor helleborine with the smaller Meadow Ants as farmers
in most cases you see the much larger black ants taking on this roll
Photo: 5th August 2017

Friday 4th August 2017 - Hutton Roof 0900hrs to 1100hrs

Some absolute stunners today, My choices are becoming limited and the idea today is to bring in the purpurea which are now looking quite good and will probably be over within a few days, if we are lucky we might just about get the weekend before they start going.

The first specimen up is the beautiful Helleborine which resides close to the lempets 40 and 40a. This one is hiding under the hazel canopy. This specimen is on the turn right now so this will be my last photo for 2017 of this specimen.

Here is a beauty "purpurea" which resides behind Spec 40 (Click to enlarge)

Calling in again on what I have nicknamed "Lempethell" (shown below) and its the specimen helleborine which shows signs of yellow petals, I have now noticed this with a further specimen as well so thats a couple which have these fabulous characteristics.

"Lempet-hell" (Click over to enlarge) Photo taken 31st July 2017.

The new plant (shown below) taking this on believe or not is the same plant which was actually the "Chlorantha" only last year (2016). I had noticed it had taken back some colour but when you look close you can see where the petals have gone "yellow" so again I suppose it does have a weak look of the "lempet situation" but here within helleborine.

"Lempet-hell" on 4th August 2017 (Click over to enlarge)
To think this plant is the same one we classified as "Chlorantha" only last year.

Now moving over the fell to check out a beautiful duo which has a lot of flowers still in bud, but just the ones already opening it is looking good:

A lovely pair of helleborines today (near to 17s) Click over to enlarge

Here is a close up from the pair shown above:

A lovely specimen just starting to open up.

Moving on to Purpurea No.3 which has come through like this in most years, this year is no exception and for me is one of the most stunning of the "Purpurea's"

Purpurea 3 on 4th August 2017 (Click over to enlarge)

Here are a couple more photos showing close up's of Pupurea 3 which is just slightly under canopy.

Close up of Purpurea 3 on 4th Aug 2017

A further photo of Purpurea 3 on 4th August 2017 (Click over to enlarge)

I have managed to get a couple of Purpurea No.1 which lies within 20ft deep within canopy and you can see the amount of purple it takes on. A beautiful plant.