A FEW HOURS AT AMWELL NATURE RESERVE

I managed  to get out to somewhere I had wanted to the last couple of years...especially when someone told me that if you sit in one of the hides the Reed Buntings are so used to people that you end up quite close to them?!

A photographic opportunity of one of several genus I would very much like to get more on.

It did not work out quite that well but I did get a few things and a few unexpected things too, like  kingfisher, be it a mere flash! Bummer!

Hmm I have just resized the photos and they are all dreadful and lack sharpness.

It seems trying to go out with this camera in future will be a complete waste of time?!

Darn it!!

Now I have to decide what to do?!

I tell you I have had terrible luck with cameras since Is tarted this blog, what with several not working out of the box when new and finding out they are refurbished and not new and one other overheating after just 6 months and now this one losing focus and a strange juddering when filming at powerful zoom lengths?!

Jesus, do I really want to buy a camera now or just leave it a couple of months?

Pochards... 

The Duck Wash ...

Tufted Ducks...

Pochard and Lapwing

Red Admiral Butterfly

Reed Bunting...

Water Mint...

Giant Pondweed...

VIDEO of EARLY AND COMMON SPOTTED ORCHIDS

Video of Common Spotted Orchid and Early Marsh Orchid....I think, lol.

COMMON SPOTTED ORCHID SITE - DACTYLORHIZA FUCHSII

Finally I manage to post up the last of the series, well until I am up there next today or tomorrow, on my British Orchids?!

PHEW!

The weather had been extremely forgiving unlike the insects which manage to find two spot not covered by insect repellent. One on the outside of my right hand and the other on my left elbow.

Both areas become quite swollen and my knuckles red...THE BLIGHTERS!!

If I said that the Orchids were late this year that would be an understatement! These are just opening as you can see and yet normally in June these flowers would have been and gone for a couple of months on many like the Southern and Early Marsh Orchids. Granted the Common Spotted Orchids you see here are a little later than the others but they are still late.

With a little luck I shall get shots of them fully opened and hope the weather is on my side. Also if I am really lucky I will get some good shots of Common Twayblade Orchids and Pyramidal Orchids.

The former I have only just located and the latter I have not seen for a couple of years so fingers crossed!!!

After that I may just be able to start planning trips to locations further afield with Orchids and of course other wildlife?!

Toes crossed!! LOL.

 The wiggly lines common on the Dactylorhiza I visit.

 You can see the spotting on the leaves here, a shame the flowers do not last longer than they do like tropical Orchids!

 I like this photo.

 As you can see some have more spotting on the leaves than others

 Oddly I usually see some with flowers so pale they are almost WHITE. I am trying to figure out why this is.

 Heavy spotting but for me often the ones with fewer but large spots look a little better.

 Oops an Early Marsh Orchid crept in the post?!

 I did a few arty shots too over on my photography blog.

SOUTHERN MARSH ORCHID & EARLY MARSH ORCHID DACTYLORHIZA PRAETERMISSA & INCARNATA

A few more shots of some stunning British Orchids on a site where they are slowly declining in numbers unfortunately.

EARLY MARSH ORCHID DACTYLORHIZA INCARNATA

The not so Early Marsh Orchid around the Crested Newt Ponds.

Not naturally there despite what they might tell you.

Also slowly dying out and not been touched or looked after for years, again despite what they may tell you, lol.

Common spotted will be in flower any day and with luck the Bee Orchids about a week.

All very close together and I think the Pyrimidal Orchids should be about a week too, depending on sun and temperature now.