I had a walk around the reservoir this morning and came across a Redshank stopping by. It was rather distant, but you can see the orange legs that explain its name.
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| Redshank [Reservoir] |
Somewhat closer were a few sparrows and finches feeding in the grass and occasionally perching on the barbed wire.
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| House Sparrow [Reservoir] |
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| Greenfinch [Reservoir] |
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| Goldfinches [Reservoir] |
Whilst overhead House Martins, Swifts and a few Swallows were feeding on the flies.
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| House Martin [Reservoir] |
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| Swift [Reservoir] |
In the week I joined the Oxford Flora Group, who were surveying Two Pine Fen. I discovered that the orchids I had previously identified as Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid, were actually Common Spotted. We only managed to find this rather sorry specimen.
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| Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteinerioides [16th Red] |
Virtually next to this were a couple of Early Marsh Orchids, which to me were pretty much indistinguishable, however, to those more expert have a slightly different flower shape. I suspect that the orchids that I identified as Southern Marsh on the 9th Red are also Early Marsh. It emphasised to me that the Dactylorhiza orchids require an expert to separate and are more of a continuum than a set of distinct species.
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| Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata [16th Red] |
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