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                         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

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This flower was also somewhat soletary although in this case it is characteristic of the species: Tragopogon porrifolius.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

introduction
floristic catalogue
faunistic catalogue
contact
index
gallery 1: 2006-2012
gallery 2: 2012-
map
>> 2006 Jun 16
<< 2007 Jun  2