A Very Tiny Bee

So, I'm keeping an eye out constantly on the dog roses to see who is having a feed today; Friday's visitor was a very very tiny bee, no idea what species, that was literally rolling around in the pollen.

Of course there were many other bees around, lots of tree bumbles in particular, a few white / buff tails. All have very heavy pollen baskets, these flowers really must be a rich source.

So my little wildflower meadow has, after three years, sort of finally produced results. We have a decent carpet of birds foot trefoil with some vetch and buttercups thrown in. A few ox eye daisies have appeared.

It's not amazing, but red tailed bumbles in particular are feeding in numbers, so it is doing the job I intended.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 24.05.19

From "Common" to "Drab"

So, the other day I showed you a female "common" blue, now today I have something even less flattering.

My first damselfly shot of the year, a female common (again) blue damselfly, drab variant. Sometimes the females are green, sometimes they are drab, and this was the drab form.

Lots of bees about today on the dog roses, including a thumping great queen tree bumble. Butterfly wise we seem to be in that intermediate time, not many seen today apart from common and holly blue, and a brimstone. Orange tips are over it would appear, sadly. They are such a favourite species of mine, despite being pains in the behind to photograph.

Been warm today, swifts and swallows in the air. Lots of baby bunnies too, which is why I've seen Mr Fox twice in the last couple of days on campus.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.05.19

Dog Roses are out...

...and the bees love them.

As do I, they smell glorious.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.05.19

A not so Common Blue

Nobody wants to be common do they?

It's not a compliment, is it, to be told that you are common or to be taxonomised as common?

I suppose the female common blue might occasionally seem a bit drown and drab on top, although the blue sheen amongst the earthy hues on the upper wing belies that a bit, but down below they look like they've been decorated by the world's most delicate miniatures artist.

Nothing common about that at all, certainly compared to me in my work uniform!

My little wildflower meadow has had a few ox-eye daisies appear to go with the pretty yellow semi-carpet of birds foot trefoil. The bees, especially the red tailed bumbles, love the trefoil, so the meadow is far from a total failure but it hasn't worked as it should.

Also seen  - tiny baby bunnies!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.05.19

World Bee Day

I've been finding a few bees at the park today, to mark World Bee Day.

They love the big purple globe flowers that I think are allium but probably aren't. Sadly there are many other plants in the mini sconce that aren't bee friendly - the little multi coloured daisies just dont seem to be attractive to pollinators.

In this day and age, why would you not make sure pollinator friendly plants are seeded in a public park, especially one that has conservation rangers?

Indeed why don't councils make it compulsory for pollinator friendly plants to be placed in all public areas? Bees and butterflies need all the help we can get.

It beats hand pollinating on an industrial scale!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.05.19

Saturday with the Tigers

So today found me playing cricket at our Kelham Road home against the rather fearsome sounding Nottingham Tigers, a largely Asian side formed after a split from Basford Mill, meaning we recognised a fair few of them from last year.

That also meant we knew they would be good as their captain, a pleasant character called Shak, belted a century against us last season. So when we had to bowl first, particularly with me opening the bowling, I thought we were for it as these guys play at a higher Saturday standard than us.

Buuuut...we did well. We opened well, bowled well through the middle and in the death to keep them to 158 all out, with all our bowlers young and...not so young contributing. Even got a wicket myself after yesterday's frustration, using cunning plans far too detailed to go into here. Ahem.

We'll forget the crap fielding where I lot the ball go through my legs. Only cost us one run. Like last year, interesting smoking was also reported.

I always thought that 158 might be a bit beyond us as these guys have some very good and very quick bowlers, but they opted to play fair and turn the heat down a bit. However, on a slow wicket we lost wickets regularly after a decent start, and I ended up going in with the score at 70 odd for 7. Miles to go. What made things worse was that my partner opted to bat with a runner without knowing how to bat with a runner, which meant there were three of us running around like idiots for about 15 minutes until he decided he was better off without.

He then got out next ball to a horror of a shot.

Meanwhile I had actually tried to bat patiently and enjoy it without getting too nervous. I was doing ok roo, me and the captain even managed to slap a few fours, but when we got a little too close to their score the proper fast bowler was brought on, although I managed to survive 6 balls and even hit a single.

Sadly I perished next over when I effectively yorked myself. Our skipper wasn't done yet and he thrashed the quick man for a few more 4s until he was diddled by a slower one. We ended up with about 125 in all I think.

So it was a good game with the wrong result, but a lot of fun!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 19.05.19

Not for the First Time, Defeat from the Jaws of Victory

So at last, I got a game of proper league cricket, although I forgot to arrange a lift and found myself wandering around our Kelham Road home like 14 stone of Bambi until a fellow traveller could be persuaded to go and kindly pick me up.

So today I played for the third team at our current home at Norwood Park with its cute Pavilion and unfeasibly bouncy wicket, and very wet ground after the showers this morning. I only had 10 minutes to get changed into my slighter tighter than last year whites and get ready to field laboriously as I hadn't had a chance to do any warm ups.

Not sure that would make much of a difference to be honest.

So we bowled first, and bowled and bowled and bowled without taking a wicket, despite our young quick bowler bowling so quick he got his one per over warning for bowling bouncers. Our first four bowlers all bowled really well - I was the fourth - and had no luck as the Ellerslie openers dug in for nearly 30 overs.

On a personal l level I had 3 edges go through the slips, a catch dropped, and beat the outside edge so many times I felt like I was bowling at a bat made out of neutrinos, neutrinos that mysteriously turned into solid matter when I bowled one on the stumps.

However, having softened up the opposition, I was allowed by my captain to have a rest so he could take some wickets, and after a 40 overs that seemed to go by very quickly, we restricted Ellerslie to 105 for 5.

I then got to wave my arms around when we batted, as I went out to umpire and signalled 4s and things while we made a good start against a young lad determined to knock heads off. Not so happily, I gave my first ever out single when our most dependable opener nicked a top edge, and then the wickets started falling, and unlucky injuries started happening.

We still needed about 20 when I got out there at number 9, after my captain telling me I was good enough to do this I felt very nervous, despite trying to feel otherwise. After a shaky start I cracked a rather good 4, but that it didn't help as I committed my perpetual problem of lunging at the ball too early and too hard and knocking up a dolly catch, while laser eyes of disapproval burned my back.

We lost, after having actually played better than Ellerslie in most facets of the game. I've been feeling rather narked about my own performance since, but oh well, another game tomorrow.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 18.05.19