After seeing Jimbo’s Bee Orchid post on EOS forums last night, I thought I’d check out the Hartslock Web Page to see the latest Orchid News.

This indicated that the Bee Orchids were in flower, so I thought I’d take a wander over and see what I could get. Anyway, the reserve is now covered in Common Spotted and Pyrimidal Orchids, which I got some good shots of, but I was lucky enough to find 2 Bee Orchids, one in the middle of the main Orchid Slope, and the other next to the footpath in the first enclosure.

I’m very pleased with the images that I managed to get today, they can be seen on my Hartslock Reserve page here

There were plenty of Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Marbled White butterflies about, and I saw a lone, rather scruffy looking Brown Argus, which is my first for this year.

I was particularly pleased with the shots that I managed to get of the Marbled White, as I managed to get both Open and Closed wing shots.

I also met a rather nice fellow who was looking for the Monkey Orchids, so I had to break the news that they were over, but he did let me know where I could find Lizard Orchids, and its not in Kent :o)

I think I might have over done it with my back a bit, but its not feeling too bad at the moment, so lets hope that it stays that way.