Ardnave Orchids

As promised some orchid news ....thanks to Tom we are now more confident at identifying orchids but it was really good to have an expert on hand to spot the Pugsley's Marsh Orchid and various hybrid forms. 

Early Marsh Orchids.

Heath Spotted-orchid and to the right - its white form (var. leucantha or anthocyanin-deficient)

Northern Marsh Orchids.

Northern Marsh Orchid x Heath Spotted-orchids.

Left: Pugsley's Marsh x Heath Spotted and right a pure Pugsley's 

And then there were the Pugsley's hybrids...thanks for theses images and explanations Tom! 

Northern Marsh x Pugsley's. Left: a typical Northern Marsh-orchid in the seep showing clear diamond shaped lips and not too much contrast in the lip markings.
Middle: a potential Northern Marsh X Pugsley's Marsh hybrid. Stronger markings on the lip, respectable lobing and intermediate leaves.
Right: another interesting plant with large (but surprisingly sturdy) strap like leaves. Another candidate but with paler and loopier lip markings than the middle individual, maybe not the best.

Heath Spotted x Pugsley's. Left: a darker and well-marked Heath Spotted-orchid with gone over Pugsley's in the background. Directly in between a colony of clear Heaths and gone over Pugsley's all of these individuals showed some degree of hybridity.
Middle: A striking pale individual showing a nice intermediate lip.
Right: Another nice intermediate individual. Surely a strong candidate for the hybrid Pugsley's Marsh-orchid X Heath Spotted-orchid.

Early Marsh x Pugsley's Left: a typical Early Marsh-orchid for the site (incarnata).
Middle: a tall cylindrical plant with thick stem and intermediate leaves. The lip was strongly marked and strongly lobed- I think a good candidate for Pusgley's X Early Marsh-orchid.
Right: another somewhat intermediate plant with the strongest colour of any of the plants. Dark loops and lobing once again suggest the hybrid.

Ardnave Point revisited

I know: I take the same photos each time we do this walk, but it really is so good! 

Heath Spotted-orchids.

A Frog Orchid (next to the daisy) - well spotted! 

Common Gull eggs about to hatch.

Choughs. 

Buttercup machair.

A quick paddle.

Otter prints.

Hebridean colours.

And there were plenty of rabbits, of varying colours, to keep Rocky on tenterhooks.

White-tailed Eagle.

Golden Eagle.

And a hare.

Killinallan orchids

Rather than just walk along the beach and then back, we headed off through the dune slacks on our outward walk...

There were many Pyramidal Orchids coming into flower...

Early Marsh-orchids...and below.

But what we were really looking for ...Frog Orchids. 

Killinallan

And with the arrival of our son Tom, the weather changed as a heat plume plunged Europe and the UK into unbearable heat; while we enjoyed perfect weather! Our destination for the day - Killinallan and an exploration of the dune slacks, before a long walk out along the beach. 

Pyramidal Orchids - just coming out.

Six-spot Burnet Moth.

Common Blue.

Dune slacks.

Frog Orchid - not easy to find, but when you know where they are and you get your eye in...

Across the dunes...

...and onto the beach.

A Cockchafer on Sea Rocket. 

And one of many Painted Ladies.

The beach to ourselves.

And the far end of the beach.

Oa Orchids!

 On the way back from our damp walk, the weather began to clear and dry up, enabling a closer look at the superb roadside orchid display. 

Lesser Butterflies...I have never seen so many! 

Early Marsh.

Heath Spotted.

Northern Marsh.

Northern Marsh x Heath Spotted.

The first Grass of Parnassus was just coming out.

And more....