Bees and Wasps on a Sandy Heath

The Beewolf Wasps come to the end of their season but there are abundant other Hymenoptera feeding, mating and nest building. I think the bandied mating bees are the Heather colletes, Colletes cunicularius, and the very pale bee may be its cuckoo bee, Epeolus cruciger . The other parasitic species, the Ruby-tailed wasp Chrysis ignita, were present in large numbers  

Sharpenhoe - Chalkland Flowers

 The chalkland flowers are the best we have seen at Sharpenhoe for many years. Unfortunately we got rained off before we had a chance to explore the upper meadows but here some species from the pits area (Hawkbit with Female Chalkhill Blue, Field Scabious with 6-Spot Burnet, Greater Knapweed, Knapweed with Chalkhill Blue pair, Agrimony, Yellow Bedstraw, Rest Harrow, Crested Cow-Wheat, Clustered Bellflower with Hoverfly and Spider, Harebell, Sainfoin and Marjoram)

Bedfordshire Damsels and Dragons

We spent a very enjoyable day photographing Banded Demoiselles (males shown first then females), Large Red Damselfly, Ruddy Darter, White-legged Damselfly  and Blue-tailed Damselfly. I was trying to get flight shots which proved very difficult - I will share a few in a future post.

Damsels and Demoiselles in the Sunshine

I spent a wonderful but wet afternoon in a small river near Willington in Bedfordshire among the Banded Demoiselles and White-legged Damseflies. I like the graceful curves on the wings in the first shot but I think it is the effect of the electronic shutter! 

 

 

  

Wrest Park Infrared 2. Grounds

A second set from yesterday's visit to Wrest Park - this time of a few of the buildings,trees and views in the extensive grounds