Early Spider Orchid

A very long and very wet walk for the spaniel and I to look for  Early Spider Orchids (Ophrys sphegodes) in their East Sussex stronghold. Although classified as rare at this location there are stands that number into the hundreds, if not thousands. Even so they are difficult to spot and are very varied in appearance. On the thin chalk soil here they only grow a few centimetres tall while in mainland Europe they may be 70 or 80cm high. Many are still in bud so another visit - when its not raining - is on the cards.