Orchid HuntA long but interesting drive via Settle, Ribblehead and Hawes with a toilet break at Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
The weather remained mild all day; plenty of brooding dark clouds interspersed with warm sunny spells and not a spot of rain, which given the year we've had was rather surprising. Lunch for the 13 attendees was taken outside of the minibus which was parked for the day alongside Marsett Beck.
Orchids were the main focus of the visit and we were not disappointed. The ridge or hill lies immediately behind the small chapel. We began by walking the uppermost track, keeping well away from the cattle which are vital to this site. Well, that is apart from Maddy who seemed prepared to risk life and limb! the grazing regime helps make this one of Yorkshire's gems. Common Spotted Orchids abounded in their various guises including white ones. Also large numbers of the magenta coloured Northern Marsh Orchids and the pale pink delicate Heath Fragrant Orchids. Some of the more agile members of the group were able to get down low enough to enjoy the heady fragrance of this particular plant. Common Twayblades were plentiful but there was no sign of the rare Small White Orchid which is known to be present.
A few Early Purple Orchids were still around but past their best but only two Early Marsh Orchids were found and just a solitary Frog Orchid not in its best condition. "Is that it?" was the most publishable quote. Unfortunately not all members got to see this as they had wandered off ahead or wisely decided to stick to the higher part of the ridge.
Alice's plant count for the day was c120 and included Globe Flower, Birds Eye Primrose, Butterwort, Yellow Rattle, Ragged Robin, Marsh Hawksbeard, Common Milkwort and Lousewort.
Large numbers of moths were disturbed by the group; species identified were Silver-ground carpet, grass moths, Chimney sweeper moths and many plume moths (Stenoptilia pterodactyla). An unusual but attractive micro moth was also seen & photographed. This was subsequently identified by the County Recorder as either Aethes pierci or hartmanniana. He would have needed to see the actual insect to have been certain which of the two it was! Only 20 species of bird were seen and butterflies were few and far between but included a few Small Heaths, a Common Blue and late in the day a Small White.
Those of us who descended the very steep slope and went back via the beck path probably regretted doing so as it was extremely uneven and muddy plus we were all being assailed by the indigenous wildlife in the form of a minute black midge which was far worse at the bottom of the hillside. Many of us including yours truly finished the day with hands dotted with red spots. As we spent some 2.5 hours exploring this orchid wonderland this left too little time to walk to Semerwater. Instead most of the group strolled part of the way towards the lake where we were able to enjoy the flora of the watermeadows. A brief stop at the northern end of Semerwater ended a rather splendid day and once again a dry Tuesday.
John Gavaghan