So I returned as promised to Salthill Nature Reserve in Clitheroe to look for the elusive Bee Orchid. There was a photo of one on a local wildlife group, but could I find it? Well nope! However there was still plenty to see and it was nice to wander round the reserve.
I snuck into a gated off meadow which might not have been part of the reserve. Whoops! There were vast amounts of ox-eye daisies in there which were buzzing with bees and small dragonflies.
So despite not coming across the bee orchid, it was a successful visit. Have you visited a nature reserve recently?
sunshine and celandines 
Well, that was a great success, lovely photos of the wildlife.
About time I bought a decent camera. Now you will say you took them with your phone!
Thank you. No I took them with my camera. It’s not a majorly posh one though.
Great 📷! Are you doing the Big Butterfly Count 19 July – 11 Aug (www.bigbutterflycount.org)? You’ve got most of them on your travels today!
Hi yes I usually try and join in. X
Nope not yet, but David is having his car serviced so hopefully we will be able to go on adventures soon. x
That’s good news! X
Looks like a great place for wildlife, especially butterflies 🙂 I did a canal walk last weekend and managed to photograph two butterflies – they never usually stay still long enough for me! 🙂
There were enough for me to chase around. 😜
Love the photos of the butterflies and moth. Haven’t seen many up here yet, except cabbage whites trying to get at my veg bed. X
Oh no those pesky cabbage whites. 🦋 X
Looks like you had a good day. The only visit to a nature reserve I’ve managed since lockdown was relaxed yielded a glut of Meadow Browns, but not one other butterfly. But there was a splendid male Mandarin Duck out on the water, which made up for the monotony of the butterflies.
Oh Mandarin ducks are splendid! I would be happy to see one of those. Have seen some meadow brown’s too recently in the fields when taking my dog for a walk.
Great pics – as always. Love the butterflies best. Barely seen one down here with all the rain. Shame you didn’t spot your orchid – fingers crossed for next time.
Yes I will continue my orchid quest. X
Lovely Sharon & am always impressed by your knowledge of plants & insects. Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos. Have a great weekend, take care & huggles.
Thanks Susan, you too. X
Love the roses and daisies. We have them here too. Tough buggers, they grow in ditches and along the gravel roads. And you have so many butterflies!!
Ours grow on verges too. Makes the roads look more inviting anyway. X
Great pictures, all of them! Cute rabbit.
Thank you. 🙂
The rabbit made up for the fact that a bullfinch I was trying to photograph got wise to me. 😅
What lovely country moments x
Thank you. It was a happy couple of hours spent in the reserve. X
Wonderful photos! What a lovely selection of wildlife you saw despite not seeing the orchid you wanted to!
Yes I was very lucky. Lots to see!
Similarly, I’ve been fruitlessly searching for Fly Orchids. I’ve had no luck, but I’ve had a lot of fun whilst looking.
Not seen one of those either!
Me neither, apparently this summer they were even harder to spot than usual because they didn’t grow very tall. I’ve definitely noticed that with other orchids too.