Thursday, 21 May 2026

The Weather Warms, More Appears

 I'd been wondering where all the red tailed bumblebees have been this spring; I've not been able to photograph one, and have barely seen any at all. 

Today, as the weather warmed and brightened in the afternoon, they were suddenly everywhere in the nature garden area of campus. 

After a disastrous 2025, the mini meadows have recovered somewhat, and today buttercups were attracting many of these velvety, firey-tailed worker bumbles. 

Nearby, on the rock cransebill, a big queen red tailed bumble was at work, her mighty body bending the delicate stems of these flowers almost onto the ground. It's a relief to see them on the wing again. 

Nearby, found a lovely holly blue butterfly too. 

Around campus there are currently many clumps of ox eye daisies, and one one of these sunshine-meets-fried-egg flowers, I came across another welcome returnee - the characterful and glittering swollen thighed flower beetle. 

They are wonderful little insects, and I hope you have met one too this spring! 

Si 

All images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.05.26 








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