Ivythorn Hill

by Jeff Bevan · Published 7th June 2017 · Updated 10th June 2017

I heard on Twitter that large blue butterflies have already been flying this year. This is very exciting so on the way home I stopped at Collard Hill. However, the weather was poor and on finding out that only one large blue had been seen all day I changed to plan B and stayed on Ivythorn Hill.

Common Spotted Orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) – Ivythorn Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 822_3929

Ivythorn Hill

Ivythorn Hill is owned by the National Trust and sits between Walton and Collard Hills on the low ridge of the Polden Hills across the centre of Somerset. It is a narrow strip of limestone grassland, scrub and woodland. It is famous for its butterflies and orchids. During large blue season visitors walk through its grassland to get to Collard Hill from the car park at the Street youth hostel.

Bees, Bee Orchids and Orchids

This evening was one of bees, bee orchids and orchids (plus some interesting hoverflies).

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) – Ivythorn Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 822_3526

When I arrived a couple of visitors were photographing something close to the ground. They had seen this bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) – I doubt I would have seen it on my own. I failed to find anymore during my visit.

There were bees everywhere across the hill.

Bumble Bee – Ivythorn Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 822_3814

Sleeping Bees

At the far end of the hill there was a patch of meadow cranes-bill (Geranium pratense). This was beautiful in its own right but held a special secret. In many of the flowers were sleeping bumble bees, some flowers even had a couple of sleeping bees.

Meadow cranes-bill (Geranium pratense) – Ivythorn Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 822_3664

Bumble Bee on Meadow cranes-bill (Geranium pratense) – Ivythorn Hill, Somerset, UK. ID 822_3728

Hoverflies

There are too many species of hover flies. This one caught my interest because of its black and white colours. I did some research using Google and I think its a Great Pied Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens). I’m pretty sure it was also asleep – it was happy for me to get very close.