Nature Switched On - 2007 June 9 & 10, Saturday and Sunday

	Practical Ecology in the Pyrenees Nature Switched On
introduction floristic catalogue faunistic catalogue contact index resources photo gallery map >> 2006 Jun 16 << 2007 Jun 2	a S T A M M E R project 2007 June 9 & 10, Saturday and Sunday I've detected 7 different Orchids so far of which 5 or 6 are determinated. A seventh species is at the point of flowering. The two orchids of these photographs started flowering this weekend: the Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) and the Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine). Like the other Orchids (with the exception of Anacamptis pyramidalis) they all grow in the half shade of Oak trees. The Bee Orchid was present with about 10 specimen and of the Helleborine I could count only 2 specimen so far. Of the latter is said that it can spread quite quickly with its rhizomes and has recently started to invade North-America, so let's see if they also get more company here.
		The Bee Orchid in the shadows of the oak trees on the highest terrace. Sunday 8:55
Broad-leaved Helleborine on the central terrace. Saturday 11:24
	______________ This flower was also somewhat soletary although in this case it is characteristic of the species: Tragopogon porrifolius.
Tragopogon porrifolius on a sunny spot on the central terrace. Sunday 9:16

	______________ What captures the attention these day are numerous web funnels woven by Agelena spiders. The threads are not sticky and they trap their victims simply by entangling them. These spiders also create a nice black hole where they hide and also seem to shelter their offspring.
		Webs produced by the Funnel Weaving Spider in some Thyme shrubs, on the higher central terrace, looking east. Sunday 8:46

	______________ The butterflies are massively represented these days by a Coenonympha species. They have a clear preference for the nectar of Sideritis hirsuta, Scabiosa columbaria and brambles. These beetles seek refuge among the menacing thorns of a Field Eryngo (Eryngium campestre) which is at the point of flowering.
Coenonympha butterflies on Sideritis hirsuta on the lowest oriental terrace. Friday 18:26
Beetles on a Field Eryngo on the higher western terrace. Saturday 9:34
	______________ The nest of the Rock Sparrows (see 12 May 2007) had come to an abrupt end. Some weekend ago we found the nest completely empty without a trace of the eggs or youngs. Perhaps there had been a major leap in their development and they had simply flown out but more probably they had been the victims of a squirrel, fox or crow. In the extreme east corner of the terrain I could again hear their nervous shrieks (in Spanish they are called 'Shriek Sparrows') and I imagine they or another couple are breeding there.
		A Rock Sparrow on a bramble on the lowest oriental terrace, looking north-east. Saturday 10:13
	______________ The aspect of the terrain is in some parts dominated by one or two species: Cut-leaf Self-heal (Prunella laciniata) is now massively flowering, especially on the highest terrace while one terrace lower the flowercover is a beautiful carpet of violet Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa), white Orlaya grandiflora and yellow Melilotus altissimus.

Cut-leaf Self-heal on the highest terrace, looking north-west. Friday 18:53		Centaurea scabiosa, Orlaya grandiflora and Melilotus altissimus on the middle terrace in the east, looking south-east. Sunday 9:09
introduction floristic catalogue faunistic catalogue contact index resources photo gallery map >> 2006 Jun 16 << 2007 Jun 2