Radipole Lake's Orchids are all in Flower Today

If you pop down to Radipole Lake in the next few days you all see all of Radipole Lake's Orchids all in flower.  All these photos were taken this morning.  

The heatwave last week has brought out our Pyramidal Orchids, the last of the reserve's orchids to flower.  The first one was seen earlier this week but this morning 25 were counted coming into flower. The snap above also has a small white Crab Spider which was hiding among the petals.

The Southern Marsh Orchids are going over but there a few orchids at their best now.  Over 30 have been counted across the reserve during the past month.

Our 6 typical Bee Orchids are still going strong.  A group of 5 are close to the Pyramidal Orchids.  The last flowers are coming out on our Brown Bee Orchids so we expect these plants to be in fruit this time next week.

It is now well and truly Summer at Radipole Lake.  As well as our Pyramidal Orchids, Purple Loosestrife, Water Figwort, Meadowsweet, Red Bartsia are all coming into bloom.  

Another plant worth looking for is the Wild Celery on the swan platform near the Viewing Shelter. If you crush the leaves, they will smell of celery.  This plant is the ancestor of the cultivated celery we put our salads is descended from.

It's getting quiet for bird species at the moment though the Common Terns are doing well at Lodmoor and the Marsh Harriers are still around.  

The reedbeds are alive with Cetti's, Reed and Sedge Warblers but the ducks are starting to go in to their Summer moult and are lying low staying safe while they are flightless.

Some folks this morning were taken in by this snap and thought it was a spectacular shot of a Marsh Harrier diving into a patch of  flowering Wild Carrot and asked how I managed to capture it.  The snap is, of course, of  the Marsh Harrier painted on our Discovery Centre taken at an unusual angle .... ;-)

For all the latest sightings, contact Radipole Lake Discovery Centre, details below or pop in and see us. Hot and cold refreshments, sandwiches and snacks available.