Trosley Country Park

An early morning trip to Trosley C.P. saw me there just after 7:30am. At this time it wasn't too windy and the odd sunny spell occurred. I headed through the woodland to the southern bank of the downs and started to look for orchids in the western section. There was a single man orchid and only 2 common spotted orchids in a place were normally I have seen up to 10. In the past couple of years I have also seen a single greater butterfly orchid here but this time no sign. There were still a few common twayblade and 4 white helleborine in flower and looking good. I decided to walk the length of the reserve along the downs. Apart from the 2 Dartmoor Ponies which I suspect might have nibbled the odd orchid I initially saw very little. I then noticed that a couple of reptile mats had been placed down and under the first one was a lovely female slow worm and under the second were 2 adders, certainly one being a female which quickly slithered off. The other adder was very small and could possibly have been born this year, not sure?
A bit of bird song around me but not much really. Blackcaps were the most evident with at least 6 a single whitethroat and chiffchaff. I finally managed to start seeing a few butterflies with the odd common blue and finally saw a total of 14 along with 1 peacock, 1 holly blue and a single dingy skipper, there was also a single female broad bodied chaser.
Back in the wood I found another couple of sets of reptile mats and managed to see a second female slow worm and then I stumbled upon a beautiful male adder basking on a tree trunk with his scales flattened to catch the most of the warming sun.

Holly Blue (female)


Adder (male)



With the ground being so dry and hard, I wondered if these holes in the wood chip path had been made by foraging badgers.

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