Sunday, 22nd May, Moths and a surprise

It’s a pleasure to be up early on a Sunday morning in May to empty the moth trap. Today was peaceful and leisurely and it was good to welocme the first Poplar Hawk-moth of the season, a second Small Elephant Hawk-moth (the first didn’t hang about for its photo) and a Gold Spot (New For Garden). This was a bit of a surprise as their favoured habitat are damp areas where sedges grow. My garden is dry and sandy athough there is a douit at the bottom of the field next door. Hearts and Darts are starting to show in good numbers as are the Shuttle-shaped Darts

A very fresh Poplar Hawk-moth showing lilac tones and just a little of its burgundy patch on its hindwing. These are normally held forward of the forewings which gives it an unusual appearance.

The Small Elephant Hawk-moth has white legs and antennae with striking pink and olive green colouring on its wings any body. The adults visit honeysuckle where it will be well camouflaged.

Tawny Shears – it usually takes me a while to identify this moth although I get quite a few in the trap – not surprising as it comes to Campion and Wood Sage and I have both growing in the garden. The Red Campion can get a bit out ouf hand but it really helps to knit the other plants together, is easily removed if it’s in the wrong place, and is great for pollinators.

One of Guernsey’s green lanes swathed in Red Campion.

The surprise? Two hedgehogs! Up to last night only one was showing. The second one was unsure so I wonder if this was his/her first visit. I stopped feeding last July as rats were visiting. I no longer scatter the food for the hogs to forage, but put it well inside their house. I only ever put down a small amount as a top up. The water bowl has clean water every day and is also appreciated by the garden birds – even after one of the hogs stepped into it backwards.

Wednesday, 18th May, the Orchid Fields at Les Vicheris

To think that the west coast of Guernsey used to have large swathes of orchids bursting into flower in the unimproved damp soil makes me wish I could step back a hundred years. It must have been a paradise. In today’s busy island it’s important for me to look out the unspoiled pockets and enjoy our natural heritage. Les Vicheris is inland from Rocquaine, just by Le Tricoteur. There is a sign up on the coast that shows the way.

First out of the blocks in these fields are the Loose-flowered Orchids, Anacamptis laxiflora: tall dark spikes that support intensely purple flowers with pale centres. The Early purple Orchid comes into flower at the beginning of April, but is not found at Les Vicheris. McClintock tell us that it is only found in Guernsey and Jersey in the British Isles, ‘and there is far more of it in Guernsey. Definitely a plant to cherish and at its best now.

La Société’s sign showing a map of the different fields which are traditionally managed .

I only had time to go round the first field. I knew that orchids hybridise and struggle to identify some of the others which are just starting to come into flower and will be in their full glory early next month. I was reassured to read that I’m not the only person to struggle with some plants.

Spotted leaves, but lower petal not noticeably divided. Is it a hybrid or Common Spotted? It’s too pale for Southern Marsh Orchid. I don’t have the answer but am leaning towards Common Spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza fuchsii.

The photos do not do justice to this wonderful area – every bit as impressive a Bluebell Wood and both can only be enjoyed for a few weeks every year. Bluebell Wood is wonderful partly because it announces the arrival of spring. The orchids at Les Vicheris are the heralds of May, one of the loveliest months in our still beautiful island.