Lizard Orchid

Back to Kent again today with the target being the Lizard Orchid. Success on finding this one orchid and we would have returned home happy but in the end we had the Lizard plus nine other species - Lizard, Pyramidal, Common Spotted, Chalk Fragrant, Monkey, Musk, Common Twayblade, Greater Butterfly, Fly, and Late Spider.

Harrap reports the Lizard Orchid as being rare and very localised. As a statement for the country that may well be true but it does not apply to Sandwich Bay. We found them growing along the side of the road, on the golf course, at the back of the beach and in peoples front gardens. There were thousands of them.

Lizard Orchids - Himantoglossum hircinum

The Lizard Orchid is on the edge of its range in England and numbers have fluctuated over time, probably due to climate changes. By 1900 the Lizard was down to just four remaining sites and extinction in England was threatened. Even as late as the 1970s and 80s a twenty four hour guard was maintained at the largest site at Sandwich Bay to deter orchid collectors. Now it seems to be thriving and gradually expanding its territory.

Lizard Orchids - Himantoglossum hircinum

Lizard Orchid - Himantoglossum hircinum

Lizard Orchids - Himantoglossum hircinum

It is not the easiest of flowers to photograph as the greyish green flowers blend into the background of long grass in which it grows. Close up, however, there is some nice detail in the individual florets.

Florets Lizard Orchid

The bright colours of Pyramidal Orchids were a constant distraction whilst seeking out Lizards to photograph. In the end I couldn't resist taking a few pictures for the blog.

Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis

Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis

Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis

Next stop was Park Gate Down where we had seen a report of three spikes of Musk Orchids. It is a small insignificant orchid and finding it would be much harder than last years search, when we visited Noar Hill to see thousands of spikes carpeting the reserve.

Park Gate Down was a glorious sight. It had changed significantly from when we visited only a couple of weeks ago. Common Spotted and Chalk Fragrant orchids now covered the slopes in huge numbers.

Common Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza fuchsii

The plant below is a very pale version with limited and very faint pink markings but it probably falls within the normal range of colour variations for the Common Spotted Orchid.

Common Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza fuchsii

Chalk Fragrant - Gymnadenia conopsea

Chalk Fragrant - Gymnadenia conopsea

Chalk Fragrant - Gymnadenia conopsea

Although it is a fairly common find, it was nice to see a pure white specimen of the Chalk Fragrant.

Chalk Fragrant  - Var. albiflora

Floret - Var. albiflora

Lots of Common Twayblades. Once you get to recognise the plant it seems to be everywhere.

Common Twayblade - Neottia ovata

Monkey orchids were still around but going over fast. I wanted to record it again but I had to photograph the side in shade and I have "healed" a few decaying arms and legs in photoshop!

The hard work was in finding the three spikes of Musk Orchid. We knew which field they were in but finding, what turned out to be two and a half, ten centimetre spikes, in a field of grass and wild flowers was never going to be easy. Newly emerged Twayblades in particular kept giving false indications of successes.

After about an hours of searching we stopped for lunch, starting to think that we would have to pay a return visit to Noar Hill to see them again. Fortunately Dave was on top of his game and by lining up anthills on a photograph he had seen and saying a few magic words he managed to find them. A great achievement, standing just six foot away and with Dave pointing at them I still struggled to pick them out.

Musk Orchid - Herminium monorchis

Musk Orchid - Herminium monorchis

Other finds included a few Greater Butterfly Orchids, as below and a good number of Fly Orchids, which were well past their best and which I did not bother to photograph

Greater Butterfly Orchid

We had one final stop to make for the day. We had seen Late Spider Orchids earlier in the year, before they had flowered and I had been back to see them in bloom. Unfortunately Dave had been chasing butterflies in the Pyrenees at the time and had missed out on seeing them in flower. We thought he may have missed out on the chance for this year but the return visit found a couple still looking good and we were able to record them.

Late Spider Orchid - Ophrys fuciflora

Late Spider Orchid - Ophrys fuciflora

Another great day Orchid hunting. It helps fill in those quiet periods in the bird spotting year and makes a change from butterflies and dragonflies.