On Saturday, Tom and Steve took a trip to Sandscale Haws with the main aim of seeing the rare Coralroot Orchid. This rare orchid is more common in Scotland with only a small handful of sites south of the border, however Sandscale is considered one of the best sites to see it with the National Trust providing guided trips by the wardens. With only a single grid reference in a vast dune system it's safe to say that we were very lucky to find this great little native orchid.
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| Coralroot Orchid- a largely saprophytic orchid, depending on mycorrhizal fungi for its food (although unlike the Bird's Nest Orchid it does have some chlorophyll). |
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| Round-leaved Wintergeen, Pansy sp., Marsh Cinquefoil and Water-crowfoot sp. |
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| Common Blue and Puss Moth. A couple of the many species seen including: Painted Lady, Small Heath, Wall, Common Blue, Dingy Skipper, Small Copper, Cinnabar, Puss Moth, Garden Tiger (caterpillar) plus some Whites. |
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| Dune slacks: left: the dune slack with the Coralroot, and right: the main dune slack with a small concrete structure. |
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| Following a Sandscale, we visited Hodbarrow Lagoon where there was a fantastic number of common, Little and Sandwich Terns. Also in abundance were Eider Ducks plus a few Tufties. |
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| On the lagoon barrier: Northern Marsh Orchid and Bee Orchid. In a couple of weeks the Bees will be fully out and in great abundance. |
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| A definite highlight: a Cumbrian Spoonbill! |
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