Garden Project 8

Monthly report on the garden status - delighted that we have resident Red Mason bees in our insect boxes. There has been a lot of debate about whether Bee Hotels are harmful to the ecology of the insects encouraging them to build nests where food supplies are not sufficient to maintain the populations. I don't think this applies in my case as the surroundings are full of pollen and nectar flowers. Comfrey (not shown in detail but lots of clumps everywhere) and Alkanet (4) are the main bee magnets. Red Campion and Buttercup meadow are in full bloom along with lots of other species.

Stormy Skies Over Cambridge

Wonderfully dark skies yesterday evening for our CCC walk around Cambridge. We expected to get very wet during the walk but only got a short sharp shower and otherwise great lighting for the buildings. 

All Aboard for a Short Time

The young Grebes are now too large to comfortably fit on the adult's back for long, tumbling off when it moves at speed or being thrown off when the adult shakes their wings. The young still stay close to the adult for food and protection.

Great Crested Grebes Versus Crayfish

 This pair of Great Crested Grebes were working hard to provide food for their three chicks - generally small fish. At one point, one adult arrived with a large crayfish that was eventually beaten into submission and swallowed by the other adult but not before the chicks had sampled the catch.

RPS Field Trip to Wet Wicken Fen

A party of eight braved the rain yesterday and explored Wicken Fen walking over to Burwell Fen. As usual, I had my eyes mainly downwards looking for insects etc. With the wet and cold conditions, these were restricted to Culex mosquitoes in large numbers, snails, crane flies and other resting flies. Towards lunch, the clouds lifted a bit and it was warmer so suddenly Mayflies and Stone Flies were crawling up every available reed and launching into the air or caught by Spiders. I only managed a few bird photos though others were successful with a pair of hunting Barn Owls, Cuckoos and Reed Warblers. Unfortunately it was a short respite and the afternoon proved even wetter for a circuit of the boardwalk. Most of photos taken at 6400 ISO so a tribute to modern technology and software.