The Frogs are hopping in the meadow! Suffolk 20 June 2013

A quick evening trip to one of my favourite orchid meadows and once I'd 'got my eye in' Suffolk's only Frog Orchids were soon found. It's funny how a year makes you forget how small they are! In all I counted 15 spikes, some of them absolutely miniscule. It's obviously too early for Pyramidal Orchid but there were still loads of Green-winged Orchids in evidence albeit if 99% of them were well past their best.  

Frog Orchid

Frog Orchid

Green-winged Orchid

Orchids and more. 16 June 2013

We spent today around a few sites in East Anglia which sadly have to remain secret. This is due to the fact that the main site we visited holds the UK's only remaining Early Marsh Orchids of the critically endangered subspecies 'ochroleuca'. They were out and in pristine condition and I was pleased to count 18 plants this year. Also at this site and nearby similar sites were the rather more common 'incarnata' subspecies of Early Marsh Orchid along with the numerous purple hybrid variations this species seems to produce, presumably with Southern Marsh Orchid which was also present. Common Spotted Orchids are just starting to come into flower and the nearby Yellow Flag Irises were in perfect condition too. Birdwise, a Nightingale flew across the path right in front of us, a Cuckoo was in full cry, a Common Buzzard soared overhead and 7 species of common warbler were seen and/or heard.

'ochroleuca' Early Marsh Orchid

'incarnata' Early Marsh Orchid

Southern Marsh Orchid

     

Let's go fly a kite! Brockdish, Norfolk, 14 June 2013

I've been working in Brockdish all week and today the advantage of working outside really kicked in. I was outside the house I'm painting at 11.40 talking colour schemes with my customers and lo and behold a Black Kite sails over! Although they were interested I'm not sure they realised quite how rare a sight this is - or maybe they did from my reaction! The bird was really low and flapping to gain height over the centre of the village before slowly moving off west. Presumably folllowing the line of the Waveney Valley.

Earlier this morning I opened the lounge curtains to find our pair of Spotted Flycatchers have returned at last - flycatching from the top of my bird feeder. Last year they arrved on 12 May so took their time this year! Then on the way to work a Turtle Dove was sat on the middle of the road near Rushall with another calling in Brockdish itself.

Back home this evening a Hedgehog showed photographically well on the lawn.

Not bad for a work day!

Spotted Flycatcher, Pulham Market 

Hedgehog, Pulham Market