rarities

and coming into flower is Cornish bladderseed, a genuinely rare umbellifer. I don't know whether it is always the case but this example has obvious notches on the petals. This flower was surrounded by heath spotted orchids.

butterfly orchid meadow

this picture shows a group of lesser butterfly orchids. The greater butterfly orchid is found nearer to the edge of the wood.

butterfly orchid

the butterfly orchids have reappeared, lesser at the top, and greater butterfly orchid below. In fact close up the flowers are quite different apart from the pollen masses. And the lesser had a beautiful gentle fragrance today.

jacob's sword

flag iris:-this is an exotic but common plant of marshy places, but very bright and jolly when we see it.
In ancient Greece, Iris was the goddess of rainbows which is why people say my eyes are like pools of liquid (as opposed to solid) diesel.

swifts and martins

you may wonder how we take these photos. It is a family tradition to stand in rivers barking or holding large pieces of wood (tree trunks not fishing rods) and wait for the next bird to fly past.

Jay fleeing

not Sir DA, but unmistakeable nevertheless. They are very shy and secretive and it is the only Jay the boss has ever seen feeding at the bird table. Maybe the news is getting around the OH is a very good spot for a bird's day out. Earlier today, down on the Inny by Beal's Mill we saw the next chap/ess dipping its wing and catching gnats, sand martin? swift?