Heath Spotted-Orchids near Lochinver, Scotland on the 10th May 2011

I've just returned from 6 days in the N.W. Highlands of Scotland and have seen some great wildlife.
The cliffs, bogs and hillsides were, on occassions, carpeted with Orchids; Heath Spotted-Orchids that is.

This specimen was "close to" the mountain of Suilven, which we wanted to climb but didn't due to high winds and adverse weather forecasts,  We did get to walk around Loch Druim Suardalain, above, near Lochinver in search of a particularly rare diver, of which more later!



In Sussex, it is expected to flower from early June.  This is in flower before mid May.