Dry Stone Wall rebuild

The pesky deer gradually destroyed a section of the dry stone wall in the West Field but help is now at hand and it is being rebuilt. This time I will leave a large gap so the deer no longer have to jump the wall and simply block the gap with a gate leant agqainst the wall when any sheep are in there.

Another perfect Heath Spotted Orchid

I've never recorded more than two Heath Spotted Orchids before this year but we are up to four specimen s this year. It can be slightly subjective because of hybridisation so I only count those that match the criteria fully. Here's another one at the very top of the West Field. Notice the prominence of the side lobes and the relatively minor central lobe, the blowsy overlapping broad flower lips, the spotting and dotting rather than strong loops marking of the flowers and the overall shap of the flowerhead which appears fuller and less torpedo shaped than the Common Spotted Orchid. The leaves are much less strongly spotted as well.

First bolete for 2025

I spotted this large bolete under Beech in the West Field. I assumed it was the Red-cracking Bolete (Xerocomellus chrysenteron) as I had seen that here before but it turned out to be the more common Bluefoot Bolete (Xerocomellus cisalpinus). There has been confusion about these two species in the past but it has now been determined that this is the more common species and is found under oak and beech.

Fawn still resident in East Field

The newborn fawn that I nearly trod on a week ago is still lying up during the day during this hot spell whilst his mother is off feeding elsewhere. After a few days I was a bit concerned as I had not seen the mother return but a couple of days later and the fawn had moved position and then yesterday early evening it was skittering around and learning to pronk whilst its mother looked on. Its back in the long grass today.

Orchid Species #6 for 2025 - Greater Butterfly Orchid

I had given up any hope of seeing a recurrence of Butterfly Orchids which appeared singly in 2022 and a pair in 2023. However I came across this magnificent specimen about 10 metres from where the previous ones appeared. That makes six species fopr the year - Common Spotted, Heath Spotted, Broad-leavced Helleborine, Twayblade and Bee Orchid.

Newborn fawn

Newborn fawns are left in hiding and won't shift even if you walk by within a couple of metres. I nearly trod on one this morning. Here's a photo taken with a long lens. They are well hidden!

New Southern Marsh Orchid site on The Narth

The site that served up Green Winged Orchids this year has also got Southern Marsh Orchids. I counted 80 plus spikes there today. I have had one Southern Marsh a couple of years ago but this new collection is a great sight to see.