My main aim was to see how many Early Purple Orchids survive there and I was more than impressed as there were many hundreds scattered around the edges of the blue carpets of Bluebells. There was quite a bit of variation in colour of the orchids, with standard purple ones, the odd paler pink one and a single white one with unspotted leaves which isn't something I've ever seen before. Reading up on them it seems they are rather rare. The one I saw (photographed below) was approaching the rare variant 'alba'. Some of the specimens in more open sunny rides where very robust.
Wild Garlic was also common and birdwise a brief snatch of Nightingale song was great to hear. Into the bargain 3 Sparrowhawks and a Common Buzzard circled on thermals over the wood and Willow Warblers now seem to be well and truly 'in'
Today was also a butterfly day with 10 species clocked up which aint half bad for April - Orange Tip, Small White, Green-veined White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Brimstone and Holly Blue.
Bee-fly
Early Purple Orchid (quite pale specimen)
Early Purple Orchid (white specimen with unspotted leaves)
Early Purple Orchid (normal colour but robust specimen)
Wild Garlic
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