Bluebell Beck Valley, June 2019.

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2 June; A bit muggy this morning but none the less pleasant a walk for that. The sheer diversity of plant, butterfly and bird life in Bluebell Beck Valley is fantastic - though the former are more obliging at sitting still for snaps.

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3rd June; Nice to bump into a friend in the Beck Valley today. She showed me where two bee orchids were and we found a common spotted - which I think (comparing photos since I got home) was the one I saw yesterday but had been looking in the wrong place. Several different butterflies around as well.

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6th June; Took the opportunity for another walk to see how the orchids were getting on. The spotted orchid is putting up a third flower spike (remembered where it was today). The irises round the pond are looking good, as are the swathes of other flowers. Plenty of bird song but they are very good at camouflage and throwing their voices so no photos. I also remembered (which I have been meaning to do for ages) to take a small vest carrier bag to pick up litter I came across - happily very little on the paths I trod.

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15th June; A bit soggy underfoot in places and the beck was running quickly after the rain. The bee orchids have gone over but there are plenty of marsh orchids, a couple of what look to me to be smaller orchids (not sure) and the spotted orchid is looking well.

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18th June; Lots of butterflies around today, some even obliging enough to sit for a photo; birds heard but generally not seen in the woods. The irises are starting to go over but lots of geraniums to compensate. It's a while since I have been past the small pond/suds so it was a surprise to see it so full. Lost of swifts on the wing on Mandale Meadow, mainly too fast for an amateur snapper - that I managed to get any at all was more good luck than good management. There are a couple of those smaller orchids, growing separately.

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21st June; Almost a week since I had been down the path to the bank where the spotted orchid is growing. Not only is it still doing well but there are several more orchids with paler flowers than it and the marsh orchids. Happily, also, very little litter along the gravel path and only a couple of pieces on Mandale Meadow at the car park end.

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23rd June; Whilst litter picking yesterday I went down a couple of paths I don't normally use and saw some more attractive flowers - so went back to photograph them today. Plenty of camera shy butterflies around but a couple stopped obligingly.

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27th June; Glorious day for a walk but glad I remembered a hat to shade my head from the sun. Different flowers starting to bloom all the time and plenty of butterflies around - but not many which would stay still.

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