A Lesser Twayblade plant, ( Neottia cordata), found by our 10 year old grandson, yesterday during a Hardy Orchid Society trip on Exmoor. His first sighting; needless to say he was thrilled. Thanks to Elliot Hails for leading and Hardy Orchid Society 🀣 for organising.

Thursley Common NNR, Surrey. 1/6/2024.
Participating in an orienteering event at Aldershot a.m, so decided to detour home via Thursley. Plenty of early marsh orchids, mainly purple, but also a lovely white one. Much wetter than this time last year.
Natural England
Surrey Hills National Landscape

A few orchids from our Bulgarian/Greek trip.
Himantoglossum calcaratum subs runelicum (Balkan Lizard orchid). Neotinea Tridentata; Ophrys Oestrifera; Ophrys Epirotica.
#Bulgaria norchids , #Bulgaria European Orchids & Wildflowers Hamza Nobes
Wild Orchids UK & Ireland

Beautiful butterflies seen in a dramatic gorge this week, Petrousas, northern Greece.
1. Southern White Admiral, Eastern Festoon.
2. Cardinal Fritillary, Small Tiger Blue, Eastern Knapweed Fritillary.
#Greekbutterflies . #Europeanbutterflies

Petrousas gorge, North Greece. Butterfly heaven.

A few of my favourite photos from our current Bulgarian Butterflies tour. #Europeanbutterflies #Bulgaria nbutterflies #Bulgaria
#butterflies

Sone impressive White Helleborines today at a local site.
Oxfordshire. 11-5-2024.
BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland Chilterns National Landscape Wild Orchids UK & Ireland

A few photos from Hartslock, Oxfordshire, taken this week.
Lady-Monkeys looking magnificent and Monkeys just appearing.
BBO Wildlife Trust Chilterns National Landscape Wild Orchids UK & Ireland #hartslock #orchids

Hartslock, Oxon. 4-5-2024.
Beautiful sunny morning today with my 'Super Spotter' buddy, looking for butterflies (and orchids).
1 Grizzled Skipper on a pasque flower, and numerous Dingy Skippers were seen.
BBO Wildlife Trust Butterfly Conservation 🦋 BC Upper Thames Hamza Nobes

My first Green Hairstreak of the year this morning. Sheltering from the wind at the bottom of the slope. Such a vibrant colour!
Hartslock Nature Reserve. Oxfordshire. 30-4-2024
BBO Wildlife Trust Butterfly Conservation 🦋 BC Upper Thames

Reading, 19-04-2024. Female Orange-tip, perfectly camouflaged in our Prunus marbled white, but vibrant when back lit by the afternoon sun.
Butterfly Conservation 🦋 BC Upper Thames

First flowering fly orchid (Ophrys insectifera) that I have seen this year.
Buckinghamshire. April 18th 2024 .BBO Wildlife Trust BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland Chilterns National Landscape Wild Orchids UK & Ireland

April 12th, 2024. Oxfordshir.
Cephalanthera damasonium, White Helleborines, starting to flower. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but still wasn't expecting to find them just yet.
BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland Chilterns National Landscape Hardy Orchid Society 🀣 Wild Orchids UK & Ireland.
Hamza Nobes

Enjoying the sunshine yesterday morning, in the garden at Caversham, Reading. Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Brimstone butterflies.
Also seen were Peacocks, a Comma, and a male and female Orange-tip, but no photos.
Butterfly Conservation 🦋 BC Upper Thames

Pasque Flowers, Easter Monday. April 1st, 2024.
Always a delight to see. Goring, Oxfordshire.
BBO Wildlife Trust Chilterns National Landscape BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland wildflowerhour