Soprano pipistrelles provide nightly entertainment

Feeding on insects at high speed around the house - much better than the Red Arrows. Sometimes very close to each other. Video on link below. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nFgS3OFJJzHv4JIg7zLrqGTMfs51kZrH/view?usp=sharing

New Species - Ant Woodlouse

Until my recent time spent with a local invertebrate expert I had no idea of how many species of woodlice there are. Perhaps the oddest one is the tiny white, blind Ant Woodlouse (Platytarthrus hoffmannseggii) which basically lives in Ant Nests feeding of ant faeces and any other detritus in the nest so they are tolerated by the ants. Once I get the list of woodlice species I'll record them here.

Southern Marsh Orchid

Three years ago, mysteriously a single Southern Marsh Orchid appeared in the East Field. At the time it was our seventh orchid species. Three years later a second Southern Marsh Orchid has appeared not far from the site of the origional one. Amazing. With the single Green Winged Orchid flowering this year we now have eight species of orchid - quite outstanding.

Quaking Grass

My favourite grass (with apologies to Crested Dog's Tail which is also special!) is Quaking Grass which seems to be increasing slowly in the East Field. Easily overlooked as it is small and subtle.

Orchids @ 28th May

For some forgotten reason I always note the number of Common Spotted Orchids found by 28 May. This year it is a all-time high of 507 orchids. However I am not feeling that we are going to get anywhere near the 945 orchids (includes other species) found in 2023. We shall see. In that year there were only 369 Common Spotteds by 28 May but I think the season is a lot earlier this year. In 2023 we reached 529 orchids total by the 6 June so if we are ten days ahead of 2023 climate/weather wise that would make a lot of difference.

Heath Spotted Orchid

I suspect that there are a few Heath Spotted Orchids around but this is the first confirmed one. It is in flower and has all the right features - flower shape more rounded than the Common Spotted; flower lips blowsier with central lip much smaller and not protruding; pattern more speckled than strong loops; flower colour pale and paler smaller leaf spots. So far the non Common Spotted total; one Butterfly, one Green Winged, four Broad-leaved Helleborines and now one Heath spotted.

Lesser Horseshoe Bat back on site!

That makes it twelve years in a row that the male LH Bat is making its summer home in our shed. It is at least thirteen years old but quite likely older. Proud to have him around even if it keeps me out of the shed!