Ghostly Vision
Well-known member
Hi all
Visited the Black Forest last weekend on my annual pilgimage for Ghost orchid.
The well-known site near Donaueschingen is getting worse by the year, and this year following a very thorough search we counted 221 plants. Although this may sound like a large number, they are spread over a large area, and compare this count to the 1600 in 2006 and 10,000 in the 1960's.
In addition to the gradual drying-out of the site, large numbers of visitors are trampling the plants in their effort to photograph them.
As a result, Rangers are patrolling the area and moving both cars (which are subject to a visit by the Police and a parking fine) and people off the site.
Because of all these reasons I unfortunately will not be running a trip to the area again next year. Instead I will be visiting the Austrian Alps for Ghost, and the Dolomites for species such as Malaxis monophyllos and Chamorchis alpina. Should be a good trip, and there will possibly be Wallcreepers and other alpine birds thrown in too.
Back to this year's trip, apart from the Ghosts we saw (all at the very end of their flowering season);
Mueller's helleborine
Narrow-lipped helleborine both nominate and "neglecta"
Broad-leaved hell
Dark red hell
In the same wood are many spikes of Bird's nest orchid and Lady's slipper, among other things.
We visited a site to the west which had approximately 10,000 LEsser twayblades - an amazing sight!! Some were still in flower, and we found several plants which had three leaves instead of two.
Nearby, in two gorgeous valleys, we found most orchids to have gone over, apart from a few Marsh fragrant orchids still with some flowers on them.
Birds of interest seen or heard were
Black woodpecker
Crested tit
White stork
Short-toed treecreeper
Black kite
...and on the Sunday we visited a site in the Black Forest where the local Nutcrackers come down to feed on peanuts put out by the tourists. We had up to seven birds within 10 feet - an absolutely stunning sight. The attached picture was taken with a 55mm lens!!
We saw less butterflies, but they did include the usuals
Map
White admiral
Silver-washed fritillary
Chestnut heath
We also saw several Sand lizards, and various Grasshoppers and crickets.
A good little trip, shame it won't be on next year!
Sean
Visited the Black Forest last weekend on my annual pilgimage for Ghost orchid.
The well-known site near Donaueschingen is getting worse by the year, and this year following a very thorough search we counted 221 plants. Although this may sound like a large number, they are spread over a large area, and compare this count to the 1600 in 2006 and 10,000 in the 1960's.
In addition to the gradual drying-out of the site, large numbers of visitors are trampling the plants in their effort to photograph them.
As a result, Rangers are patrolling the area and moving both cars (which are subject to a visit by the Police and a parking fine) and people off the site.
Because of all these reasons I unfortunately will not be running a trip to the area again next year. Instead I will be visiting the Austrian Alps for Ghost, and the Dolomites for species such as Malaxis monophyllos and Chamorchis alpina. Should be a good trip, and there will possibly be Wallcreepers and other alpine birds thrown in too.
Back to this year's trip, apart from the Ghosts we saw (all at the very end of their flowering season);
Mueller's helleborine
Narrow-lipped helleborine both nominate and "neglecta"
Broad-leaved hell
Dark red hell
In the same wood are many spikes of Bird's nest orchid and Lady's slipper, among other things.
We visited a site to the west which had approximately 10,000 LEsser twayblades - an amazing sight!! Some were still in flower, and we found several plants which had three leaves instead of two.
Nearby, in two gorgeous valleys, we found most orchids to have gone over, apart from a few Marsh fragrant orchids still with some flowers on them.
Birds of interest seen or heard were
Black woodpecker
Crested tit
White stork
Short-toed treecreeper
Black kite
...and on the Sunday we visited a site in the Black Forest where the local Nutcrackers come down to feed on peanuts put out by the tourists. We had up to seven birds within 10 feet - an absolutely stunning sight. The attached picture was taken with a 55mm lens!!
We saw less butterflies, but they did include the usuals
Map
White admiral
Silver-washed fritillary
Chestnut heath
We also saw several Sand lizards, and various Grasshoppers and crickets.
A good little trip, shame it won't be on next year!
Sean
