May 15th 2010

Went up to the site today for a walk round – plenty to see, even though the wind was still a bit chilly. The hybrids and the Lady orchids are flowering very well, with a few still in bud. The Monkey orchids are all still in bud with onloy a handful looking like they might open some buds in the coming days – the rest (maybe 200 plants) should flower in 1-2 weeks, depending on the weather.

Lots of butterflies and other insects on the wing too – Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoishell, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue, Small Copper, Pyrausta nigrita, Pyrausta purpuralis, Common Swift moth, Burnet Companion moth, Osmia bicolor (a solitary bee), Gomphus vulgatissimus (Club-tailed Dragonfly), Tachina ursina (a parasite fly), Dioctria rufipes (Common Red-legged robber fly).

Pretty good for birds too with Hobby, Red Kite & Buzzard all seen and Chiffchaffs in every hedge.