Garden Species 18-20th April

Some garden species photographed over past 2 days - good to see a small Cuckoo wasp and the first Holly Blue. Otherwise a mix of species. First Red Damselfly in the garden today but wasn't carrying camera at the time (dates for previous years range from May 25th in 2010 to April 13th in 2020).

Blue Damselflies and Other Insects at Paxton

This morning, we were doing a wildlife survey in the Gully area at Paxton  - the weather was decidedly chilly and breezy so no Butterflies or Dragon/Damselflies but we recorded quite a variety of Insects, Flowers and Birds including a very vocal Nightingale - let's hope he finds a mate. I think the Mining Bees were the stars photographically (Andrena haemorrhoides and Colletes cunicularis)!! In the afternoon, I took a short walk along Meadow Trail and found two Common Blue Damsels and one Variable Damselfly - all looking rather cold

Life on Comfrey and Alkanet

The Alkanet and White Comfrey are in full bloom in the garden and provide home and food to a very large variety of species. Here are a few. The Rhingia rostrata has very impressive mouthparts for slurping up nectar!

The Bee and the Ant etc

A few more images from the garden during this week including this amazing head and torso of a Red Ant attached to an Andrena bee antenna. The bee had attempted to remove the ant but the jaws remained locked onto the antenna though part of the abdomen and most of the legs have been rubbed off by the bee. We also have a Hoverfly bee mimic Merodon equisetum and an early Cranefly.