Lady's Slipper Orchids

We timed our visit to Estonia just right with fantastic weather and more importantly the orchids were at their best with the Lady's Slipper Orchids in pristine condition.

Great Reed Warbler

Great Reed Warbler

A Great Reed Warbler found locally today represents only the 2nd record for North Lincolnshire.  The bird showed fairly well at times but rather distant and into the light so photos not the best.

Estonia's Orchids

Just back from four days spent looking at orchids and in particular The Lady’s Slipper Orchid, something we had wanted to do since our first visit to Estonia a few years ago.  Here’s the first of many images, Wayne's to follow shortly which no doubt will be much better!  We flew to the capital Tallinn picked up a car and drove straight to the port of Virtsu where we took the ferry to Muhu and then drove over the causeway to the Island of Saaremaa.  We spent 3 nights at the Loona Manor Guesthouse in the Vidumae Nature Reserve, I would highly recommend this, a beautiful place where we had in the garden alone; Wryneck, Icterine Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Garden Warbler, Thrush Nightingale and Common Cranes flying over, not that we were looking at birds we were there for orchids!

Garden Blooms

Its been a long time since I’ve done a blog post, Wayne seems to have taken over for one reason and another but today I have been inspired by the garden and so dusted my camera off and took a few snaps…..

Herb Paris, one of 20 spikes around the pond

Marsh Marigolds Emerging Royal Fern Water Avens Cuckoo Flower

An Auricula doing particularly well Yellow Archangel

Red Campion Bluebell The pond, teaming with life, newts seem to be having a good season

Wheatear's & Whinchat

A quick look at a local site revealed a cracking male Whinchat and good numbers of Wheatear