More orchids

Carl has already posted a photograph of a Greater Butterfly Orchid from one site on the Rinns. Here's a photo of a few (c.10 together) at another site which is holding a minimum 210 flowering spikes this year, nearly double the previous largest count - 120 in 2010.
Also, there was this clump of Northern Marsh Orchids, though the three tallest spikes are so robust that they could actually be hybrids between Northern Marsh and Heath Spotted, which are not uncommon and have been recorded from this site before.

Malcolm

Northern marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza purpurella)

Orchid identification is not straightforward - and it is complicated by their ability to hybridise.  These are, I believe, Northern marsh orchids growing on a bank behind Shorefield.
Carl