Insects in the Rain

 With the wet and cooler conditions, most of the insects were resting up on or under leaves or in the grass during the last few days just coming out with the sun. Here a selection - most identified!

First Damselflies and Other Garden Inverts

First Large Red Damselflies of the year (April 13th same early date as 2020) plus a host of other insects and spiders active in yesterday warm temperatures. The buttercups are just coming out in the meadow area so lots of photographic opportunities, including favourite hoverflies (Melanostoma mellinum, Platycheirus manicatus, Mythropa florea and Pipiza noctiluca) and lots of bug, bee and spider species!

Bee Flies, Bees and Birds in Toft

A miscellany from the last couple of days in Toft - bee flies taken at 1/800th and1/6400th second and still not quite stopping wing movement; three Andrena species of mining bees (A,nitida, A. heamorrhoa and A. cineraria); three migrant species (Chiffchaff, blackcap,Willow warbler) and a Dunnock.

 

Paxton Breeding Bird Survey and Mining Bees

Yesterday was the first Breeding Bird survey of 2024 at Paxton - a windy but warm 7am start to the walk to catch the early song was rewarded by singing Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers on our route and elsewhere Garden Warblers and Reed Warblers announced their presence while Nightingales are here singing in the private areas of the site. Later in the morning I went to look for Mining bees in a favourite location and the bramble leaves were teaming with different species - haven't identified all yet (shown are the Early Colletes female and male, ?Orange-tailed Mining Bee, Small Sallow Mining Bee, Tawny Mining Bee and Red Mason Bee

Pasque Flowers for Easter

The Pasque flowers are out early on Royston Heath and are there in large numbers. It was a bit windy today for flower photography but I enjoyed trying a few different techniques and also finding some mini creatures - spiders, snails, fly, caterpillar and a Red-tailed Mason bee that makes its nest in snail's shells!