I was keen to check out the orchids in Cleethorpes dunes so set off full of anticipation early in the afternoon. It was overcast but very warm so I had high hopes of butterflies too. The orchids here comprise magnificent displays of common spotted orchid, southern marsh and the hybrid crosses between the two. They hybridise freely and the resultant crosses have hybrid vigour and the flowering spikes are often very tall and robust. I was surprised when I set off into the dunes to find that most of the initial plants I came across had totally gone over. I did eventually find some fresh specimens but even these looked somewhat care worn. I usually expect them to be in their prime round about my birthday on 23rd June so was surprised that they were well past their best. They seem, as do so many plants and insects, to be appearing earlier every year because of our changing climate.
Butterflies were plentiful, especially meadow browns and I stopped counting at 50. There were good numbers of small white and a few large skippers still and my first small skippers of the year. Ringlets were also on the wing in good numbers. Moths included 6 spot burnet and narrow-bordered 5 spot burnet as well as mother shiptons.
Although I was not birdwatching, I did manage to record 22 species.
The sea lavender on the salt marsh looks a picture.
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