Monthly Archives: March 2020

A week ago I posted a lovely female tawny mining bee, and said that the male is nondescript by comparison. And to prove it – here he is. In fact, because I had a better view of his bum than … Continued

The wind dropped today, but otherwise the weather wasn’t much better – it was still dark and cold, and the only invertebrates I could find around the garden were the resident pair of Eristalis pertinax. The female is still remarkably … Continued

I think we all know by now that you can’t always believe what you think you’re seeing in a photograph, and in the interests of journalistic integrity I feel I must tell you that my garden was not as tranquil … Continued

R’s eyebrows are likely to shoot right off the top of his head when he sees the title of this blip: I’ve been in a horrible mood for most of today. As forecast, it’s been cold, windy, and dark, and … Continued

For all that she looks sweetly innocent nectaring on this aubretia, this female Bombylius major is exactly where I would rather she wasn’t – that is, very close to a bank containing a number of ashy mining bee nests. I’m … Continued

When I spotted a patch of self-seeded forget-me-nots beginning to flower behind the garage this afternoon, I thought that the very contrasty light might make a dramatic image, and allow me to give you a break from tiny invertebrates. The … Continued

Bee of the day: Andrena cineraria, the ashy mining bee. I heard someone asking an “expert” on a television programme yesterday if it was time for women whose hairdressers have closed for the duration of the CV crisis to stop … Continued

Bee of the day: Andrena fulva, the tawny mining bee. The honey bee sized females are absolutely unmistakeable – I spotted this very fresh specimen from about five metres away, and knew immediately what she was. The males are much … Continued

On what already feels like Day 167 of the Covid-19 crisis, but probably isn’t, the Prime Minister has announced a lockdown. Sort of. The police (who of course have nothing better to do) now have to to distinguish between people … Continued

After a winter that has felt interminable, today we were finally treated to some properly spring-like weather. R and I had been planning a walk around the park at Croome, but luckily we checked the National Trust app before setting … Continued