Bee Orchid Archives - James Common

Recent sightings from Silverlink

With summer in full swing, there has been lots to enjoy on the local patch.

Pottering around at Silverlink last weekend, there was a great deal to see. Now, at the height of Summer, the site’s grassland areas are looking particularly good and it was great to sit back and enjoy the variety of wildflowers on show.

Among the plants in bloom, Betony, Viper’s-bugloss and Yellow-wort were the most conspicuous. Zigzag Clover was flowering too and, while far less numerous than back in June, a few Bee Orchids clung on.

More interesting perhaps were some new discoveries for the site: Small Scabious, a plant I see very infrequently around here, and Pale St. John’s wort, a regional rarity. Despite being much more common locally, I’m not sure I have spotted Musk-mallow at Silverlink before either…

With so much in bloom, the bees were out in force. Among the commoner species, it was nice to see a female Patchwork Leafcutter Bee visiting the flowers of Viper’s-bugloss.

Patchwork Leafctter Bee (*Megachile centuncularis*)

Wild Mignonette is an abundant plant at Silverlink and where it grows, you can bet that the striking Large Yellow-faced Bee won’t be far behind. A mignonette specialist, eleven or so were spotted around a particularly bountiful clump.

Other bees on the wing included Davies’ Collettes and Fork-tailed Flower Bee. While I didn’t stop to photograph them, butterflies too were out in abundance with Common Blue, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet the most numerous.

Large Yellow-faced Bee (*Hylaeus signatus*)

Owing to its series of small, shallow ponds, Silverlink tends to be a good place for Odonata. The only problem is that I can’t for the life of me identify most of the blighters…

On the wing at the weekend were Emperor and Southern Hawker dragonflies, the largest of the bunch, while smaller Four-spot Chasers were seen patrolling the pond margins. Smaller still, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies were numerous; though it was the striking Emerald Damselfly below which caught my attention.

Turning my attention down into the undergrowth, a small amount of sweep netting in search of ladybirds turned up the striking Blue Shieldbug shown below. Not a species I often encounter, these iridescent insects are always a pleasure to behold.

Slightly less showy was the superb variety of true bugs discovered while searching a nice area of rank grass and knapweed. Of course, many of these were hard to identify and I inevitably gave up. The three below, thankfully, were a little easier.

Potatoe Caspid (*Closterotomus norwegicus*)

Industrial orchids in Newcastle

A quick account of a fruitful few days spend admiring orchids in Newcastle.

As the NHSN’s Discovering Orchids project continues, I’ve been making an effort to check in on my local orchids. Visiting a number of post-industrial sites around Newcastle this week, it is safe to say that the plants did not disappoint. From your ‘everyday’ spotted orchids to a selection of scarcer species, there has been an awful lot to see.

Silverlink

Starting out at Silverlink Park, a site I talk about often, and Bee Orchids are having a good year. Indeed, during a quick visit, Matt and I recorded over sixty in bloom across the site. Big ones, small ones, some growing in grassland, others in flowerbeds, it is great to see this species doing so well here.

Straying from Silverlink for a minute, and Bee Orchids seem to be having a fantastic year locally on the whole. Not only are they performing well at traditional sites but are popping up in a host of new places too. I mentioned those at Scotswood a few weeks back, but I have also encountered them recently at Walker, Wallsend and Cobalt. At the latter, a number could even be seen invading the landscaped gardens of various office blocks!

Back to Silverlink and it was great to see Common Spotted Orchid becoming more numerous too. As expected, these have now taken over from Northern Marsh Orchid as the most numerous species blooming on site. A few marsh orchids could still be seen, of course, though these were invariably those growing in shady locations. The vast majority of those visible only a week back had long since browned and died.

Somewhat more exciting here was the discovery of a single Pyramidal Orchid. Growing within the site’s rich calcareous grassland, this looks to be the first record for the site. Indeed, having visited for many years, I can safely say I have never seen one here until now.

Pyramidal Orchid (*Anacamptis pyramidalis*)

Northern Marsh Orchid (*Dactylorhiza purpurella*)

A surprise

Moving on, a kind tip-off from a local naturalist resulted in a bit of a surprise this week, a few Facebook messages leading to an encounter with an altogether more special orchid. The delicate plant seen below is Heath Fragrant Orchid, an entirely new species for me.

Smaller and with fewer flowers than its larger cousins, this orchid really is a beauty. Better still, it smells amazing! A scent I would describe as sweet and citrusy that others have hailed as ‘spicy’.

Heath Fragrant Orchid is a scarce species in the North East and one usually found in the uplands. To see one in urban Tyneside certainly is a treat.

Heath Fragrant Orchid (*Gymnadenia borealis*)

Newburn

To some abandoned brownfield land at Newburn now and more Common Spotted Orchids. So many in fact that we lost count at 250! An abundant and familiar species across most of the UK, it is not often I see them in such numbers. The sight of so many flowers swaying in the breeze a welcome reminder of what more grasslands in our nation should look like.

Here too, a few Northern Marsh Orchid were hanging on, though looking a little worse for wear, and we identified several Common Spotted Orchid x Northern Marsh Orchid hybrids. Seeking out the biggest visible plant before looking closer seems to be a good technique for this – Dactylorhiza x venusta tends to be a whopper.

Common Spotted Orchids (*Dactylorhiza fuchsi*i)

Down by the river, we soon discovered the first of the day’s targets: Dune Helleborine. A rare plant nationally, those on the Tyne are said to be the locally endemic Epipactis dunensis subsp. tynensis. Or Tyne Helleborine, to use simple terminology. Either way, for some, the jury remains out as to whether they truly are a subspecies or not. Personally, I quite like them, but perhaps I’m just patriotic?

It was surprising to find over sixty Dune Helleborine in just thirty minutes of casual searching at Newburn. So many, in fact, that they outnumbered their larger and usually more abundant cousin, the Broad-leaved Helleborine. These were present in good numbers, perhaps forty or so, but still seemed scarcer than in previous years. Most of the plants we noticed had yet to flower, but a few had just dared open.

A mongtage of Dune Helleborines (*Epipactis dunensis* subsp. *tynensis*)

Well, that concludes this orchid-focused ramble. The diversity of these mesmerising plants around Newcastle never fails to amaze me and I’ll be looking for more in the future!

Brownfield wildlife at North Shields

A quick account of an afternoon spent exploring brownfield and recording wildlife at North Shields.

Poking through the rubble heaps and disused car parks of brownfield sites has become a personal hobby of late. Not only are these sites phenomenal for wildlife, but many offer a rare look at what would happen if nature was permitted to reclaim our towns and cities. One of my favourite areas of local brownfield can be found at North Shields, and inspired by a visit last year, I thought I’d take another look this weekend…

Ladybirds

One of the main reasons for my visit was, unsurprisingly, ladybirds and surveying the site I was pleased to encounter a good variety of species. Some, like the 22-Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) were to be expected while others were a tad more exciting. Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata) is a scarce species in our region and one commonly associated with dry, rocky sites such as this. It was also interesting to note the inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius litura, and nicer still to spot eight Water Ladybirds (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) around a small pool forming on the tarmac of an old car park.

The interesting ladybird larvae shown below may turn out to be 11-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella undecimpunctata), a pretty elusive species up here.

22-Spot Ladybird (*Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata*)

11-Spot Ladybird (*Coccinella undecimpunctat*a)

Other Insects

Forgetting ladybirds for a while, a quick look at the other insects out and about proved worthwhile. Butterflies didn’t disappoint with eight species on the wing, the best of which being Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and some fresh-looking Common Blues. Several day-flying moths were seen too including Hummingbird Hawk-moth, Cinnabar and Narrow-bordered Five-Spot Burnet.

Elsewhere a few other interesting beasties recorded here included Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn, quite the impressive beetle, the soldier beetle, Cantharis rufa, and the bug, Leptopterna ferrugata. Not a bad haul!

Narrow-bordered Five-Spot Burnet (*Zygaena lonicerae*)

Plants

The other great thing about brownfield sites such as is often the plantlife. Rubbly, disturbed places such as this often sportian interesting mix of elusive native species, adventives and aliens. North Shields is no exception and clearly having timed my arrival perfectly, the common plant species were putting on an fantastic display – large patches of Black Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy and Mouse-ear Hawkweed interspersed with Wild Mignonette, Weld, Common Toadflax and a whole manner of lovely things.

Perhaps the most interesting observation of the day came from the sheer abundance of Melilot observed during my visit. Indeed, everywhere I looked this attractvive yellow plant could be seen in abundance. Opting to look closer at this, three species were revealed. By far the most common of these was Ribbed Melilot; though a smaller patch of the far rarer Tall Melilot was also discovered. Next, a small area nestled between spoil heaps revealed a nice patch of White Melilot – not a plant I see very often.

Narrow-leaved Ragwort (*Senecio inaequiden*)

With far too many plants seen to cover in a single post, I think it would be best to focus instead on a few highlights and for me, an abundance of delicate Fairy Flax was nice to see, as was a large area of White Stonecrop adorning the tarmac of a former road. Yellow-wort is another scarce species that thrives on brownfield sites and it was good to see plenty of it throughout my visit. Narrow-leaved Ragwort, an invader from South Africa, provided a touch of the exotic.

Orchids were few and far between but I stumble across a few fading spikes of Northern Marsh Orchid while just outside the site, some rather lovely Bee Orchids were not to be scoffed at.

Bee Orchids at B&Q

Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera) are like hen’s teeth in the North East. Sure, they’re fairly reliable at a few more calcareous sites in the near area (Silverlink, in particular) but by large, pop up sporadically in odd places. In any given year, I tend to only encounter a few away from my usual haunts – 2021’s surprise colony was found on the site of a former bus depot at Bedlington, for example.

Waiting for a bus outside of the B&Q superstore in Scotswood, Newcastle, it came as quite a surprise last week to find a couple of Bee Orchids growing in the wasteground around the bus stop. One vibrant spike quickly turning into dozens as we scanned the short-cropped verge here, kept tidy by the store’s owners. All in all, around forty plants could be seen in full flower making for quite the sight.

I suspect these orchids had been lucky. The grass had clearly been mowed recently, but likely before the flower spikes had started to emerge. The flowers were also positioned such that they would be seen by relatively few passersby – the store is visited predominately by those in cars meaning the likelihood of ‘accidental’ picking is much reduced.

We’ll certainly be checking on these again in future years…

Even Matt was slightly taken with the number of orchids on show…

Chasing Urban Orchids

Few wildflowers capture the imagination quite like our orchids. They’re beautiful, of course, but also sufficiently scarce to provide a little jolt of excitement whenever you happen across one. They are also the only group of plants – to the best of my knowledge – that manages to unite all natural history enthusiasts, whether they be birders, lepidopterists, mammal-watchers or anyone else, under a single banner of botanical appreciation.

I stumbled across my first urban orchid of the year a fortnight past in my local park – a towering and luscious Northern Marsh Orchid rising skywards from the rough grass that adorns the peripheries of my local pond. Inspired, for the past fortnight, I have set about checking the various local sites to which I make annual pilgrimages in search of these vibrant little flowers.

First up, a trip in search of what is usually the most abundant species around me during mid-June: the Common Spotted Orchid. Well, this year, they appear far from common, with only a handful observed at a regular site and none at all at another. Perhaps they have been delayed somewhat by the unseasonably dry spring we have endured? Regardless of the reasons behind their reduced numbers, those we did see looked wonderful, their pointy, lilac flowerheads adding a welcome splash of colour among the alternating greens of the Juncus.

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

If Common Spotted Orchids appear scarce this year, Northern Marsh Orchid appears to be doing rather well. Following the initial sighting in the local park, I have encountered these much sturdier-looking orchids at three sites this week, and in good numbers. Many appear stunted and small compared with the towering spikes familiar from previous years but all maintain their lurid, purple appeal.

Northern Marsh Orchids may seem uniformly ‘purple’ from a distance but, looking closer, the repeated pattern of deep purple ribbons sat atop a violet backdrop makes for quite the beautiful sight.

Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

I have written before about my fondest for Bee Orchids, perhaps one of our most iconic and sought after native wildflowers. Keen to seek out this year’s fix, this week I set off to a favourite local haunt where, in 2019, upwards of sixty stalks of this much-celebrated bloom were observed. A familiar trip which, unusually, ended in disappointment.

Three visits to Silverlink Biodiversity Park over recent days failed to yield a single orchid across what is usually a fairly productive area of flower-rich grassland. Despite the recent rains, the ground here remained baked dry and I couldn’t find a single leaf, never mind a flower. Here, even the abundant Birds’-foot Trefoil seem suppressed and stunted due to the reason drought and, in the closing minutes of our third trip, we eventually gave up hope.

It was only when my partner decided to look once again at the margins of one of the nearby ponds did our luck change. Here, among the marsh orchids more characteristic of such damp places, two bee orchids stood proud, determined to buck the wider trend on site.

Bee Orchids need little exposition: they’re sublime, intricate and a little intoxicating, the very reason so many seek them out each year. Savouring the sight of the two pioneering blooms, I was simply happy to have enjoyed them for another season.

Hopefully, next year, Bee Orchids will once again rise en masse across this one small meadow. We’ll see…

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

On the hunt for orchids

Orchids capture the popular imagination to a far greater extent than any other group of plants. Indeed, birders, entomologists, mammal-watchers – those who would never, under normal circumstances, label themselves a botanist – often find themselves weak and the knees and enraptured by their blooms. Perhaps this is due to visual appeal – orchids are undeniably striking – or perhaps this is due to rarity. Many orchids, after all, require a certain degree of ‘seeking out’ due to their incredibly particular habitat preferences and constrained distributions. Who knows; although I confess, I too am guilty of holding these plants in high regard.

In my free moments over the past fortnight, I opted to set out in search of the orchid species to be found in my local area: both abundant and altogether more scarce. A mini-expedition, of sorts, intended to provide some much needed wild respite and get me looking downward, instead of up for a change.

First on the agenda was the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), that family insect-mimicking of base-rich soils, so named due to flowers bee-shaped lip. The aim of the plant’s mimicry being to attract passing male bees and tempt them to mate, thus pollinating the flower in the process. It is worth noting that Bee Orchids in the UK self pollinate, so this deception boasts little practical application on our shores; although it does provide a draw to the would-be orchid watcher.

Prowling the expanses of a reclaimed spoil heap in urban North Tyneside, it wasn’t long until I stumbled across my first orchid. It’s flower spike standing tall amid atop a matt of Creeping Cinquefoil – easily seen and altogether conspicuous. With further scrutiny, another 23 spikes were observed making for a fine start to proceedings.

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

Moving on the coast a few days later, I was keen to catch up with another insect-namesake. Albeit an altogether scarcer species which, until now, I had not been lucky enough to observe in the wild. Making a bee-line for Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s fabulous East Chevington reserve, it wasn’t long before I was face-to-flower with a number of altogether less garish Lesser Butterfly Orchids (Platanthera bifolia). During my stay, I counted a healthy number of the delicate, ivory-hued flowerheads – not bad given the precarious state of this threatened species in the wider countryside.

Also at Chevingtin, vast numbers of Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) were noted, ranging in colour from pristine white to deep purple. Here too, a number of altogether less striking Common Twayblade (Listera ovata) were observed. A green orchid amid a sea of green grasses, hardly awe-inspiring. Instead, the most interesting thing about these plants was their foliage – plump, succulent leaves forming almost a cradle from which the spikes emerged. Quite similar to the ornamental Phalaenopsis orchids many of us possess at home.

Common Twayblade (Listera ovata)

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia)

Last but not least and a further two orchid species were observed inadvertently on recent outings. The first, Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) growing in abundance across a lovely area of heath on Anglesey, enjoyed during a failed hunt for Marsh Fritillary, no less. Closer to home, and an avian-fueled ramble around Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside came up trumps with a number of deep purple Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella). Their chubby, rounded flower-stems standing in stark contrast to the greens and yellows that surrounded them.

I hope to hunt out a few more arguably more impressive orchid species in my local area over the coming weeks.

Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)

Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) and Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

The beauty of Bee Orchids

For me, the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) has always been somewhat of an enigma: a species I frequently encounter on TV, on social media and on the blogs of other naturalists yet never in the flesh. This petite yet flamboyant bloom, famed for its status as one of nature’s great mimics, eluding me at every turn.

The bee orchid is not a particularly scarce plant, nor is it overly abundant – growing on base-rich soil and disturbed ground, often in the heart of our towns and cities. Flowering in June and July, it beggars belief that they have remained absent from my outings since I first started casting an optimistic eye over verges and meadows a number of years ago.

Thankfully, today, I was able to reverse this trend and, after half an hour on my hands and knees at a site in the heart of urban North East England, I was able to see one (eight, actually) for myself. I was not disappointed, they are just as beautiful as I had expected.

Bee Orchids – Silverlink Biodiversity Area

Though vivid orchids were the intended target of today’s trip, as ever, it was difficult not to get distracted. Particularly by the remarkable array of insects on the wing at the aptly named Silverlink Biodiversity Area. A short watch revealing Common Blue, Small Skipper, Small Copper, Large White and Speckled Wood butterflies, alongside a dapper 5-Spot Burnet and a multitude of vibrant Damselflies. Among them, a number of delicate Blue-tailed and a few freshly emerged Large Reds. Wildflowers continued to feature on the route home with Bloody Cranesbill and, perhaps my favourite bloom of all, Woody Nightshade, adding a pleasant splash of colour to the path-side margins. The latter, in particular, looks sensational with its deep, almost sinister, purple petals.