I was walking along this path through the pine plantation above our house this morning when a bird I didn't recognise called from a tree to my left - but in getting out my 'phone to deploy the wonderful 'Merlin' bird call recognition app my eyes were diverted to....
....five orchids growing in the undergrowth at the side of the track. I had to clear a fair amount of vegetation, including some very prickly dead gorse branches, from around them before these pictures could be taken, which makes one realise how strong these tiny, frail plants are when it comes to reaching up for the light.
We haven't previously found any orchids in this area of the woods, the nearest being some heath spotted and northern marsh orchids half-a-mile away.
Once home I was able to confirm that these are creeping lady's tresses, a species which we have also found in Ferry Woods near Littleferry and in the woods near Golspie Tower.
Now we'll go back to this path to search for more colonies of this orchid - and I need to find and thank that bird for the superb timing of its call.
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