Wednesday 27 April 2022

Spring at the Kaolin Pits

 I visited one of my favourite nature sites the other day, mainly to make contact with the next door neighbour. I wanted to ask them if we could park right outside their gate if I organised an outing in the early summer. They turned out to be very friendly and agreeable, so not only have I got a generous parking area, but they will come on the outing as well. They are clearly quite interested in the site, particularly the bird life. So that's good.

I made a quick site visit and here is a selection of photos: 

Hypochromatic Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
A hypochromatic (under pigmented) Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio (Fr. Orchis buffon).

Orchid habitat, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Orchid habitat.

Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
A typical Green-winged Orchid.

Unusual mutation in Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
An unusual mutation of Green-winged Orchid.

Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Green-winged Orchid.

Swarm of honey bees, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
A swarm of honey bees Apis mellifera (Fr. un essaim d'abeilles) going over my head, the second I'd seen that day.

Violet Fritillary Clossiana dia, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Violet Fritillary butterfly Clossiana dia (Fr. Petite violette).

Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Green-winged Orchid.

Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis morio, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Green-winged Orchids in their habitat.

Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis morio, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
Green-winged Orchids on the edge of the former kaolin pit.

Former kaolin pit now filled with water, Indre et Loire, France. Photo by Loire Valley Time Travel.
The former kaolin pit at the heart of the site, now full of water.


2 comments:

Le Pré de la Forge said...

"A hypochromatic (under pigmented) Green-winged Orchid".....
Now that, Susan, is a very pretty orchid!!
And so is the other mutation!

Susan said...

Pré de la Forge: The second mutation is one I've never seen before.

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