Yesterday in the scorching heat we found the elusive Bee Orchid! This one was in Cross Hill Quarry Nature Reserve in Clitheroe, which can be accessed through Brungerley park. A kind member of a local wildlife group offered to show my sister, her kids and I where it was. 😊
There are over fifty species of orchid in the UK and all are protected. Although there are much rarer orchids ,the Bee Orchid is particularly striking I think. It’s flowers resemble the insect and amerous bees can transfer pollen to them, mistaking them for another 🐝 bee.
There were plenty of insects out in the late afternoon heat yesterday. We saw lots of butterflies including meadow brown’s, skippers, ringlets, common blues, tortoishell s, red admirals, whites and comma all fluttering around the quarry.
As you can imagine, wandering round a quarry in the heat made us all want to dive in the river, which luckily was close by. We all went for a paddle to cool off and the above heron wasn’t bothered by our presence at all.
Have you seen any orchids this year?
I haven’t seen any so far this year, which makes yours all the more welcome.
I was very happy to be shown it. 😊
Those wild orchids are beautiful flowers. When I was a kid, my dad was City Engineer, and there was a proposed road being built thru some swampy land. There were lady slipper orchids growing everywhere, about to be bulldozed. It was of course forbidden to dig these protected flowers but as they were in the line of fire, mom dug some out and transplanted them under her apple tree in the backyard. They were her pride and joy for years!! Not sure that road would have been built these days but back then no one thought of environmental damage as they do now. And a splash in the river sounds wonderful 😊
Aw Ladies Slippers are beautiful. They must have been a sight to behold. I think your Mum definitely did the right thing there! The paddle in the river was well needed. Not used to this heat! Rain forecast for tomorrow.
Sadly, I’ve not seen any wild orchids this year. Wonderful photos 🙂 I could just do with a paddle right now 🙂
There are quite a few around. Bee orchids are good at hiding though. X
What a find, beautiful xx
Lovely, I can see why a bee might be confused!
Stunning little flowers aren’t they? It always seems astonishing to me that a flower could evolve this very intimate relationship with, I believe, very specific species of bees – can fool the bees not once, but at least twice for pollination to occur. Amazing! The latticed heath moth is very cool too.
The Latticed Heath Moth was a bonus. 🙂
Have only seen orchids this year on your blog and a couple of others. Great to see the Bee Orchid and the Laticed Heath Moth is very attractive. I bet it was good to have a cool paddle after a warm visit:)
It certainly was! Loved seeing the moth too, a new discovery for us. X
Your photos are amazing. They make me feel like I was there with you. 🙂
Thanks so much. 😊
I’m afraid I’ve not seen any orchid – my walks tend to revolve around Harry, so best kept away from anything that belongs on a nature reserve. I love herons.
Me too but not this one luckily. He would have probably raced over the bee orchid. :b
Herons are fantastic. This one didn’t care we were so close by at all. X
I have seen several when out walking from my house, I think they are all the same but I haven’t identified any of them yet. We also have two growing in the garden which I noticed the other day. I have no idea how they have arrived but they are both beautiful!
That’s wonderful. Lucky you. Xx 😊
This orchid is beautiful.
It’s so unusual isn’t it. X
It’s always exciting to see a bee orchid!
Very true. 🙂
Glad you got to see one! They are very elusive! x
I was very happy , luckily someone showed us, would have missed it otherwise. X
Nice blog
Thanks 😊
I haven’t seen any orchids yet this year, but then I’ve not really left the garden this month, so that’s no surprise! Glad you got to see the bee orchid, this looks a lovely place for a walk!
If your ever I’m Clitheroe head to Brungerley park. X
I’ve seen very few butterflies so far this year. Plenty bees though and more varieties than in other years.
Haven’t seen all the Painted Ladies yet, like we did last year. X
I haven’t seen any yet,j ust a few small whites. They must be staying out of this terrible rain.
We need that summer weather back. 🙏