Waresley Wood Spring is Here!

 This year is one of those where all the spring flowers have ended up in bloom at the same time! Ellie and I were going birdwatching at Fowlmere but the roads out of Toft in that direction all had closed signs so we headed for Waresley Wood - I said too early for Bluebells but we found them fully out along with all the other spring flowers (Wood Anemone, Celandine, Primrose, Oxlip, Dog Violet and Greater Horsetail) though no Early Spotted Orchids were found. Very bright sunlight and an 800mm - not recommended for flower photography but certainly gave some different views. Final image of a mating pair of Bee Flies - first time I have seen them coupled in flight but only got in focus as they landed.

Toft 30th March Flies

 The Bee Fly is a parasite of mining bees dropping its eggs into the open burrows where the grubs feed on the bee's young. A sunny afternoon brought out a large number of bees and flies onto the daisies and dandelions in the village. Here are a few of the Diptera species - not the most attractive collection unless you like hairs and bristles but certainly demonstrates the large variety even semirural (gardens, verges, churchyards) environments support. Bees etc to follow!!

Bees etc Trumpington Meadows

Although cooler than previous couple of days, yesterday's sunshine did encourage quite a few mining bees to be on the wing and feeding on the dandelions at Trumpington Meadows. A lot of photos I haven't been able to identify but the Lasioglossum laevigatum along with Andrena flavipes and Andrena haemorrhoa were confirmed. Lots of Bee Flies and Eristalis pertinax hoverflies around.

Paxton Pits Spring Walk

Yesterday morning was our monthly public nature walk at Paxton Pits, led by Mike who pointed out lots of  signs that the wildlife is waking up from the winter dormancy and making plans to reproduce whether plants or animals. The blue tits were busy in various areas collecting moss for their nest accompanied in one area by siskins. The latter may be winter visitors though there is a good breeding population in the uk (lowest in the East of England but showing a 44% increase since 2013). Lots of Chiffchaffs voicing their claims on good nesting areas with their calls. The insects are definitely getting active with the Tapered Dronefly, Early Colletes bee, the parasitic Bee Fly and Peacock Butterfly on the wing. Lots of signs of nest building, courtship and territory aggression among the birds and the Muntjac are much bolder when they need to build up body mass for breeding and territorial disputes.