On midsummer day we set of from Sidmouth at 2am to make our way to the NE Lincolnshire coast, the main reason for the trip was for Rob to spend the weekend at one of his regular cowboy action shooting competitions with the British Western Shooting Society. I tagged along as it seemed an ideal opportunity to see the White Lizard Orchids which we would pass within a couple of hundred metres of on the journey. They are on a roadside verge in NW Leicestershire, just a quick detour off the motorway. I was a bit concerned that they wouldn't have fared too well in the hot and dry conditions which we'd been having, and they hadn't. They were pretty shrivelled up but one was just about clinging on and worth photographing, there were some nice regular specimens too. It was just after 5am though, so the light wasn't great.
Lizard Orchid - Himantoglossum hircinum
White Lizard Orchid - Himantoglossum hircinum var. albiflora
After arriving at North Cotes I almost immediately set off to walk the short distance to the coast. It was already really warm and the forecast was for it to reach over 30 degrees later. There is a low dune ridge before the shoreline and crossing through this I spotted some nesting Silvery Leaf-cutter Bee - Megachile leachella and after walking out to the shore and taking some photos I returned to watch and attempt to film the bees. I got some nice slow motion footage of a female bee at her nest and also a quick visit by a Spotted Bee Burglar- Miltogramma punctata, a parasitic fly.
The peaceful and deserted beach at Northcoates Point
Silvery Leafcutter Bee - Megachile leachella
