In perfect, warm, cloudless skies we soon found a singing Woodlark, Dartford Warbler and watched a hobby hawking for insects. Green Hairstreaks and Green Tiger Beetles hopped ahead of us along the path but the desired (and expected) Sand Lizards Lacerta agilis failed to appear. Not perturbed, we started flipping tins and found several Common Lizards Zootoca vivipara, Slow Worms Anguis fragilis and eventually, a Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca.
Me snapping the Smooth Snake on my phone.
 |
| Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca , young male: R Harris |
Dragonflies were also on the wing, including this fine Libellula quadrimaculata.
 |
| Libellula quadrimaculata |
 |
| Common or Round-leaved Sundew Arguably our most attractive insectivorous plant. |
A change of location to try and secure a Sand Lizard finally paid off with a single spectacular male being found.
 |
| Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis, male |
The orchid season also continues to flourish. This weekend I went to see a group of Birdsnest Orchids at Thurlbear Wood near Taunton with my brother, Duncan Harris. We found about 19 spikes and went on to find our first Greater Butterfly Orchids of the year too.
Birdsnest Orchid
 |
| Close-up of flower |
 |
| Greater Butterfly Orchid, flower |
 |
| Greater Butterfly Orchid, Thurlbear Wood |
No comments:
Post a Comment