The Elusive Bee Orchid.

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.

One of many many large skipper butterflies.

An unassuming orchid found all over the quarry is the Common Twayblade. I did not even realise that these are orchids.

A beautiful Marsh Orchid.

My niece got this picture of a cute new moth ( to us) , the Latticed Heath Moth.

The only Bee Orchid ( as yet) in the reserve has three flowers.

Bee Orchid.

My niece and Yellow Loosestrife flowers.

Heron intent on tea.

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?

Salthill Quarry Local Nature Reserve.

To ease my England V Sweden viewing angst, I thought I would write this post at the same time. Ha! I am a very nervy audience…

This morning I had a wander round one of my local town’s two Nature Reserves. Salthill Quarry has appeared on my blog a couple times, but as I haven’t visited for over twelve months, I thought I would drop by for a nosy. The Quarry is a designated SSSI because of its geological formations…but I was there for the flowers…and the butterflies. 🙂

The 7.00 hectare Nature Reserve has grassland and woodland habitats. I was certainly glad of a little shade. The sun beat down as I looked for betony, orchids and scabious. Some of the land was dry and parched. Still no sign of approaching rain here in the North West.

Roses on the way to the reserve.

And a Painted Lady on Buddleia.

Into the Woods.

A Swallow-Tailed Moth ~ I think..

Speckled Wood.

Feeling parched.

Hmmm Spray painter, if your going to do this , at least do a neat job! This is the Crinoid Seat that looks across to Pendle Hill.

Lady’s Bedstraw.

Orchids.

Almost hidden ~ a blue damselfly.

Marjoram.

Scabious.

Under the Umbels.

Brown Ringlet.

Harebell.

Green Damselfly , maybe?

Six-spotted Burnett Moth.

Feeling slightly calmer now. …

Thanks for accompanying me on a wander round Salthill Quarry Local Nature Reserve.

30 Days Wild ~ Days 22-26. Wild Flowers and Bird Art.

Day 22 ~ After taking my Ladybird Nature book ‘ What to look for in Summer’ with me on my walk last week , I remembered we have another ‘Tunnicliffe’ illustrated book in the bookshelf. His bird art publication ‘Sketches of Birdlife’ is packed full of  drawings of various birds of the British Isles. The illustrations are really beautiful and cover birds in all aspects of their life including flying, courtship and display,feeding etc. So this evening I had a browse through the book and gazed in awe at his incredible talent.

Day 23 ~ This evening I went for a walk in one of Clitheroes two Nature Reserves. ‘Salthill Quarry’ is a limestone and grassland area renowned for its geology and also rare Bee Orchids. It seemed to be to early in the season for the orchids but here are a few of the flowers I came across.

Ox Eye Daisies. And lots of them.

Yellow Flag Iris.

Red clover.

Wild strawberry. Lots of these too.

Some kind of Heather I think.

A pretty grass.

Hawk weed.

Foxglove.

Day 24 ~ Relaxing in the park with Hugo. Sometimes its just nice to lay back and take in your surroundings. 🙂

Goldfinch.

Grey Squirrel.

I also went back to the park when Hugo was having a snooze. He’s not the best companion to have when looking for wildlife. He tries to catch birds and he chases squirrels up trees. I was thrilled to get a picture of a Goldfinch. 🙂

Day 25 ~ I haven’t seen many butterflies here in the North West yet but yesterday and today I saw lots of these speckled browns in the park. I love the gorgeous patterns on their wings. Could I have a dress in the same design! 

Only a few more days to go of the challenge. I’m afraid on the 26th my day was such a rush that I didn’t take any photos. My outside time consisted of watching Hugo and his doggy pals chase around the Castle field. See you soon for my final update. X

Winter walk round Brockholes Nature Reserve.

Brockholes floating visitor centre.

I recently realized Its very nearly the end of December and I hadn’t posted a #take12trips entry for this month. Yikes! Clare from Need Another Holiday started the idea off in the bloggersphere ~ encouraging other bloggers to get up off their behinds and visit one new place each month and write a little about it. Well as I absolutely need to get off mine ( totally over indulged this Christmas! ) I persuaded Wil that a good walk in the countryside was in order. We drove to Brockholes nature reserve just off junction 31 of the M6 near Preston. I have been here before as the amazing floating visitor centre has hosted the odd farmers market and craft fair. But today was all about the fresh air and wildlife. We picked up a free map from the interactive welcome centre and set off to walk the route round the various lakes, ponds and marshes that have become home to all sorts of wild fowl.

Swan in the reeds.

Canada Goose.

If you go down in the woods today.

I spy a church.

Translucent red berries.

Water birds.

a spot of lunch in the restaurant.

Geese.

Bull rushes.

Heron.

Coot.

Another view of the floating visitor centre.

Lapwing 🙂

There are various hides along the route if you want to spend more time watching the birds. And if you enjoy cycling the Preston Wheel Cycle Way also takes in the scenery here. The beautiful floating visitor centre has a waterside restaurant with a toasty wood burning stove and there are two gift shops on site. So if you want to experience the Lancashire great outdoors just off the motorway , this might be the place to come. 🙂

Birds,Butterflies and Blossoms.

Well it’s been a bit of a scorcher today folks.One of those rare bank holidays where the sun shines and all you want to do is visit the seaside ( I am well over due a seaside fix!). Before It got to warm this morning I took our aged labrador round the park and met up with lots of other doggies and their owners.Then I took myself off to the river side.Not quite the seaside but a lovely walk nonetheless. Here is some of the wildlife I found out and about early this morning.

Pretty blossom.

Grey squirrel tucking into his breakfast.

Vivid blue Forget Me Nots.

Quackers.

Mayflowers.

Heron.:)

wood anenomes.

A kingfisher surveys his kingdom.

Cowslip

Peacock Butterfly.

The Riverside.

A face in a tree.Boo!

The area I walked was The Brungerly Sculpture Trail and the Cross Hill Quarry Nature Reserve By the river Ribble in my hometown of Clitheroe. Hope you enjoyed the sunshine today. 🙂

This post is post six in the Blog Every Day in May challenge over on ROSALILIUM