Tawny Mining Bee, Among Others

 Well, we are in a spell of lovely weather, and spring feels like it has properly sprung now, with butterflies on the wing today - of which more in another post. 

I've been loving visiting Sconce Park, reading and drinking tea at the cafe while listening to cricket on the radio, before walking through the park wildlife hunting. This weekend has been superb, with the highlight being my first ever capture of a tawny mining bee feeding off blossom. 

These stunning yellow and deep gold solitary bees are usually seen flying around at low level around the patches of dry dirt where they make their mini-volcano like homes, but I managed to catch one on the lovely crisp white blossom, and somehow got decent photographs despite my phone camera really struggling with the sun. 

There were other small bees about too, one in the old oak wood being a suspected short fringed mining bee, while another on blossom being perhaps an early mining bee. 

All hail iNaturalist!

Well, I hope you are finding some rewarding spring sights as well!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.04.25

Out of their Mines, come the Mining Bees

 We are just running into a another patch of fine weather, and I am taking advantage by getting outside again, trying to bathe my pale face in vitamin D, and ease my Tourette tics. 

The last few weeks, we've mainly had bumbles and honeybees on the wing, with only hairy footed flower bees being the other bees in flight, doing their ferocious zig-zag flights around the red dead nettle and green alkanet. 

But yesterday and today, mining bees have appeared. The sappy leaves of a shrub at work attracted grey patched mining bees and chocolate mining bees, while today at the library gardens, a stunning tawny mining bee paused for a brief rest on a clump of alkanet.

There was a bonus today too, the first common carder bumblebee of the year was looking for a nest hole among the grasses. 

Tomorrow will be warmer, and perhaps I might even find a butterfly. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.03.25

From Bumbles to Honeys

 As well as bumblebees, obviously the brighter weather has seen plenty of honey bees on the wing, with orange saddlebags full of crocus pollen!

This is my favourite time of the year. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 08.03.25

Bumblebees are Up!

 January was endless, February seemed endlessly grim. Not a lot to see anywhere as cold weather and grey skies seemed to set in for weeks on end. The early emergences of early January seemed to stall. 

The last few days however, have seen a return of actual springlike conditions; sunlight and a smidgen of warmth have returned. I feel like I have returned too, with more enjoyment in the outside once again as I seek to burn out the endless Tourette energy.

And at the same time, we have seen an explosion in light and colour. 

Today I wish to concentrate on one species. The better conditions have brought the the return of the big, busy and buzzy buff tailed bumblebee queens, that have been loving pollen bathing in the colourful crocus carpets we now have in the town's green spaces. 

Particularly impressive has been their beep buzzing noise they make when they lumber into the air after feeding, like an overladen World War 1 aircraft.

I hope you are enjoying seeing them on the wing too!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.03.25

It's January, and Bees are about

 We've had a couple of very bright sunny days this week, not cold when the sun is shining on you, and when the air is still can you almost imagine its low yellow rays might be warming you up a little. But it was hardly tropical, indeed it wasn't even double figures.

A decent January day, in other words.

So, on my little Tourette relief walk I like to take at lunch time, inspecting the bright gorse flowers on campus, imagine my astonishment when at the back of the bush, I saw a lone honey bee making its way into the flowers, orange pollen shopping bags very visible on its legs. 

Walking back, there was another feeding off high up hazel catkins. 

A little later on, with the sun a little higher, I went out again, and there they were, in reasonable numbers. I was able to get a couple of photos, before heading further out onto the campus badlands, to where the stinking helleborine grows. 

The flowers weren't even fully open, and yet there were a few more honey bees feeding off the closed green flower bells, climbing deep inside until out of view. 

That was yesterday. They were about again today, although fewer in number in chillier temperatures. 

I've never before seen bees on the wing in January. Normally, its mid February when the crocuses are in flower that they appear. Other people have reported seeing them too. 

Have you?

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 30.01.25

Hello Robin!

 Meant to do a longer post with all the icy landscapes we've had here, but today I was lucky enough to get a very cheerful and confiding robin greeting me at work. 

We have a very brown looking campus at the moment, so the sighting of a red breast peeking out from the trees and hedgerows is very welcome. They are becoming much noisier, with more and more of them launching into song from prominent positions on fences and tree tops. It is very welcome, as is the sight I had today of some great tits - not often seen on campus - flitting among the hazel. 

On the coldest day, we even had a couple of fieldfare drop in too. 

I'm sorry about the picture quality, this is about as good as I can get of a songbird with my mobile phone!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 16.01.25

New Emergences

 Having had a lovely family Christmas with the three of us - stepfather, sister, and myself, with the new year it is always exciting to anticipate the blooming of the first "spring" flowers.

Only, it has already happened!

As well as the snowdrops I've shown you, I've found aconite already in the Friary Gardens, and also crocuses in the cemetery.

Crocuses! In December!

I wonder if the anticipated freezing snap we are about to have will slow things down a bit, after all it was a very mild festive season, but I'm just pleased to see the colour for now, as the days begin to lengthen.

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 02.01.2025