Lesser Butterfly Orchid

An area I check regularly for this species had 10 spikes last year, but I found 14 today, with many very small and still in bud, so the total may well climb as they become more visible. This was the furthest out.
Malcolm

Another orchid

The much more slender and delicate Lesser Butterfly Orchid. These grow on acid soils often around peaty pools, whereas the Greater Butterfly Orchid is always on much drier, more fertile land, e.g. grass slopes.

Malcolm

Lesser Butterfly Orchid

The first I've seen this summer. They are reasonably widespread on Islay, often in quite boggy places, but have been declining nationally for many years. It was good to find several flowering spikes in an area where I hadn't seem them before. There should be more to see in the next two or three weeks as they grow and the flowers open out more.
Malcolm