Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Orchids and other stuff

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Orchids and other stuff: I've been both a little idle and quite involved to the extent that there has been no blog entry for some time in spite of all the activity g...

Orchids and other stuff

I've been both a little idle and quite involved to the extent that there has been no blog entry for some time in spite of all the activity going on during the months of May and June. Apologies to my "readership" - huh ! Excuses include a great two weeks spent in Aragon just south of the Pyrenees trying to photograph various vultures. Still not right but getting better ( see Griffon photo ). I've visited Cornwall ( Land's End )  where my daughter lives; this location being the furthest place from Ironbridge which she could find and still live in England. We also went with friends to the Hay Book Festival and now have conclusive proof that the Amazon rain forest is not the wettest place on the planet. I digress. 


We are signed up for a course on wild flowers run by the National Trust and at the last session we saw six species of orchid very close to the National Trust car park in Much Wenlock - common spotted, pyramidal, butterfly, bird's-nest, twayblade and a hybrid marsh / spotted variety. Rather good I thought though I gave up trying to remember the host of other wild flowers to be found at this location. As we were being introduced to the limestone grassland which surrounds the car park a red kite flew other whilst being mobbed by a carrion crow. Nobody paid much heed to this very unusual event being more focussed on the flora.

 A Griffon Vulture hanging around the feeding station in Bierge, Aragon. This is quite a sight as around 250 of his mates joined in and attracted the attention of Red Kites, Egyptian Vulture and a Lammergeier !

A Cardinal Beetle and a Pyramid Orchid ( on left ).






The hybrid - spotted /
marsh on the left and a
butterfly orchid on the right.

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Venus Pool Nature Reserve activity

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Venus Pool Nature Reserve activity: There was a lot of activity at the reserve on Monday 5th March and as the birds enjoyed the Spring sunshine. There were large numbers of La...

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Stop Press ! Sandpiper catches grub scoop !

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Stop Press ! Sandpiper catches grub scoop !: On a dull and gloomy day at Venus Pool there was a surprise development caught on camera by one of our hidden Paparazzi. A Green Sandpiper h...

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Little Ringed Plover and an intelligent Rook

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Little Ringed Plover and an intelligent Rook: A pair of Little Ringed Plover were dibbling about in front of the East Hide on the 10th April though I could have done with this male bird ...

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Early Purple Orchids and garden Wren

Travelrod's Shropshire Wildlife: Early Purple Orchids and garden Wren: I popped over to Venus Pool last week on a very quiet day for birds. There was very little about though recent wet weather had improved the ...

Early Purple Orchids and garden Wren

I popped over to Venus Pool last week on a very quiet day for birds. There was very little about though recent wet weather had improved the water levels. During a walk to the reed bed hide and I came across many Early Purple Orchids in the field adjacent to the path. Clearly the appropriate management of the meadow has encouraged these flowers and they should be in full bloom by the time I've posted this note on my blog.

We have a noisy neighbourhood outside our back door. It is a Wren which has built a nest - one of many I imagine - under the archway by our greenhouse. I understand that the male will have several nest sites with which to entice females who then choose the one they prefer. It was ever thus.