A photo of the specimen is shown below. It is an Early Marsh Orchid which shows mixed features between the ssp ochroleuca and the ssp incarnata. Both of which grow within a few feet of this plant. The overall whiteness with a hint of yellowy-cream, the 3-lobed lip and the structure all resemble ochroleuca but the pink markings on the flower and the pink wash on the upper sepal hint at the incarnata.
Early Marsh Orchid ochroleuca x incarnata
Also in the same spot I found 5 ochroleuca Early Marsh Orchids, a few incarnata Early Marsh Orchids, Southern Marsh Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid and loads of Marsh Helleborines in bud.
Early Marsh Orchid ssp ochroleuca
Southern Marsh Orchid
Earlier I had called in at a roadside site near Finningham where there were 9 Bee Orchid plants including one showing mixed characteristics between the forms chlorantha and flavescens.
Bee Orchid, form chlorantha/flavescens
Bee Orchid
My final visit of the afternoon was 'The Sink' Redgrave and Lopham Fen which was odonata heaven! Wellies are absolutely essential here but I had mine with me so went for splosh about finding 2 Ruddy Darters, 1 Hairy Dragonfy, Four-spotted Chasers, a few Scarce Emerald Damselflies, a few Emerald Damselflies, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselflies. Although I had to seek id help a Two-banded Wasp-hoverfly (Chrysotoxum bicinctum) was a new one for me.
Ruddy Darter
Scarce Emerald Damselflies
Emerald Damselfly
Hairy Dragonfly
Two-banded Wasp-hoverfly
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