Orchid final? total

I haven't seen any fresh Orchids to count in the last few days so this may be the final total for the year. However Broad-leaved Helleborines are down in number and I still have vague hopes that a few more might appear. This dry spell probably won't encourage them however. All in all it's been a reasonable year and the trend of increasing Orchid numbers year on year is maintained. The overall total is 810 Orcids which is a 5% increase on 2021. This is tiny compared to the 148% increase last year but there does seem to be a pattern of large increases followed by much smaller increases in numbers. In 2018 numbers rose 59% and in 2019 by 5% for example. The good news is the appearance of a Greater Butterfly Orchid for the first time. The downside this year has been the destruction of unprotected flowering Orchids by Deer which has reached unprecedented levels. However I have a plan to counteract this next year!

Marsh Bedstraw

I was surprised to find Marsh Bedstraw on the grassy bank by the house some years ago - it is not a wettish area. I have avoided cutting it before it has time to seed and this year I am rewarded with a significant expansion of the area. From a few isolated examples to a nice patch.

New Species - Scarlet Tiger Moth

Found on the drive rather than through Moth Trapping (which I hope to organise soon) this is a rather splendid looking Moth whose distribution is South West of the UK and whose habitat is marshy ground and riverbanks. I am not quite sure what it was doing on our drive!

Marbled White back and other butterflies

First one was seen on 21st June and sightings are still occasional at the moment. Meadow Browns are flying in huge numbers. They are enjoying the long grass that has sprung up this year in certain areas of the fields and around the house. I am not quite sure whether the longer grass is a product of the weather or of my cutting regime last year or a combination. I have also seen the first Ringlets which again are looking quite numerous. Photo is an old one of a Meadow Brwon.

New Pond Update

I'm pleasantly surprised but there seems to be water hanging around to a reasonable depth (as in a few inches) after the rain three days ago. I'd love some more serious rain to see if I can get a serious depth of water in there at which point transpiration via the clay/soil will reduce.

On the hunt for the Noble Chafer Beetle

Although I have very little expectation that we will find one. This rare Beetle is being searched for by the Nature Recover Officer of the Wye Valley AONB. She has provided us with a pheremone baited trap that would attract the Nobel Chafer Beetle from 700m or more if they are around. They favour old orchards and ancient trees such as Beeches and Oaks so it is worth a look. They have been found in Herefordshire and Worcestershire so it is worth a go to see if they are around in the AONB. We get the trap for three days and it is hanging in an apple tree central to the site.

Swallows back in the barn!

It's been about six or seven years since we had Swalloows nesting in the barn. The first year they did not reappear to nest on site was a very bad year for Swallows due mostly to weather and we saw no signs of them down on our land. The last couple of years has been better in that we have seen them hawking sometimes over the fields but this year they seem to have gone one step further and they are currently occupying an articiial nest I put up nearly ten years ago that has been unused by Swallows up to now. No photos as I don't want to disturb them yet.