pennine reservoir orchid stroll

diggleken · #1 (**permalink**) 21-06-2009, 03:57 PM

Park at BinnGreen above Greenfield, Saddleworth and wander to your hearts content - up on the tops, or round the reservoirs - which is where this sample are from today.
Ashway gap site is where the Oldham MP James Platt spent his cotton money on, as a shooting lodge for grouse moors above, now gone, but you can see some small remains and the rhododendrons in the garden still.
Wonderful refreshing wander, 5 burbling curlew above, wagtails, skylark, common sandpipers and a cormorant flighting in and fishing.
TONS of orchids, many hundreds along the wetter pathsides and slacks - a very good year for them - lots of hybrids I suspect, but southern marsh and common spotted most frequent. Amazing sight.

Bog asphodel not quite in flower yet though.
Small bee for ID too - about half size of white tailed bumblebees that were feasting on the marsh thistles, poor pic, it wouldnt stay still!
Cheers
Ken

Some pics:

James M · #2 (**permalink**) 21-06-2009, 11:56 PM

Great pics Ken! I didn't even know there were Orchids in the area, I really must get out more lol. Saw lots of that Orange Hawkweed on my walk today over near Moorgate Quarry and the railway. As for the Bee, I'm not really that good on ID'ing but I'll have a go, how about a male Buff tailed bumble bee B. terrestris?

diggleken · #3 (**permalink**) 22-06-2009, 09:30 AM

I dont know James - its the size that was most striking, not noticed such small bees before, must try for a good pic!
PS - Orchids, brilliant now, just wander up from Binn Green car park - go up the left side of greenfield and yeoman hey resvrs and you will see them all along the path, but most are around the part in between the res's, where it goes uphill a bit more at the end of the tree line.
So many, take your camera!
Look for my small bee too.
Cheers
Ken