Peter Smith writes: 

Thunderstorms and flash floods en route failed to deter our 13 members, who were rewarded with glorious weather for the afternoon's visit to one of the Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust's finest reserves.  The earlier rain probably did put off some of the more unusual butterflies but we recorded the first Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) of the season, as well as a selection of moths and other invertebrates. 

As a former limestone quarry, the site hosts an array of lime-loving plants that are less familiar to those of us living around Leicester, including Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare), Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata), Dwarf Thistle (Cirsium acaule) and Fairy Flax (Linum catharticum).  Orchids were also in full flower, namely, Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera), Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata) and hundreds of Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).

Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) and Yellow Shell Moth (Camptogramma bilineata)

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) and Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

Quaking Grass (Briza media) and Cryptocephalus cf. aureolus (possibly C. hypochaeridis but it's much less common)

(All Photos - Peter Smith)

Five of us visited Barnack with a focus on botany. The key plant of the site is Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris), which we found in many places across the reserve. Much of the reserve is fenced at this time of year to keep visitors from trampling the Pasque Flowers and three species of orchids: Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora), Chalk Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) and Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). We saw the first two of these as well as Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula). Other interesting species included Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris) and Purple Milk Vetch (Astragalus danica).

Clockwise from top left. Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris), Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), Chalk Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) and Man Orchid (Orchis anthropophora). (Photos - Simon Bennett)

We recorded 36 species of flowering plant and saw or heard a variety of bird species.  A full report will be published in the Autumn 2024 Newsltter.