Bugs and Blooms

Recently I've been on a few of trips in deepest, darkest Somerset.

A couple of weeks ago I was on the Somerset Levels, the first time I'd visited since the horrendous flooding. It was good to see (at least in the part that I visited) that the area is nearly back to normal.

 

 

 

There were plenty of damselflies around but I didn't spot any dragonflies. I'm no damselfly expert and identifying them can be a bit of a minefield as there is a certain amount of variability in the markings of the blue species but I think the following show either Azure damselflies (Coenagrion puella) or Variable Damselflies (Coenagrion pulchellum) and a Large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula):

 

 

 

 

 

 

My next trip was to a secret location 'somewhere in Somerset'. I'd heard of an unspoiled meadow that was supposedly full of orchids and after some investigation found someone who knew where it was and was willing to tell me. So many sites are damaged that I won't reveal the location but here's what I found:

Green winged orchids (Orchis morio)

 

Green winged orchid (pink variety)

 

 

 

Water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

 

 

 

 

Greater spearwort (Ranunculus lingua)

 

Common fumitory (Fumaria officinalis)

 

 

 

 

More Green winged orchids

 

 

 

 

 

 

My last trip was to Broomfield Hill near Bridgwater to see this year's spectacular display of bluebells:

 

 

 

English or Common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

&

Red campion (Silene dioica)

 

 

 If I've mis-identified anything here please comment and I'll amend the page.

 

 

Catch you later!