The First of July - and yesterdays Peacock caterpillars are still doing well on the river bank, venturing further afield after finishing off their home nettle foodplant. It's still warm, mostly sunny and dry with Brambles flowering at last - the bees taking full advantage. Several types of Bumblebee were foraging on the open flowers, shooting across to land on the centre, making a rapid turn to forage and taking off again. It was windy and bees are not usually found basking!
This one is a Tree Bumblebee ( Bombus hypnorum) in action,
taking off from a Bramble flower, laden with pollen, wings whirring.
The Tree Bumblebee is of interest as it suddenly decided, in 2001, to
investigate living in England, when the very first one was found near Southampton.
They had formerly not been seen here but were resident in other countries
including mainland Europe. They are probably named 'Tree Bumblebee
as they nest above ground. It is known as an excellent pollinator.
They have made steady progress north since 2001 and ONLY 4 DAYS AGO
the first one was found in SCOTLAND.
Congratulations to that courageous bee, we hope it survives!
Whilst studying the Brambles, I was alerted to faint but familiar cries. Looking up into the windswept sky - nothing - but gradually the calls became louder, then a common buzzard appeared over the tree line, sailing very high, then it was joined by another, gliding, circling around, coming closer to the river, then a third buzzard appeared - all three enjoying the wind, gliding against it then dropping fast and around again, calling each other.
Later, after they had sailed away, a kestrel was seen - wings beating against the wind. Swifts were present too, they are seen now every day over the river.
A whitethroat was singing in the old wildflower meadow (AKA Reptile Field) then flew over to perch on a fence post, still singing. They always choose this field to nest in the scrub each year - it's popular too with foraging house sparrows as soon as the grasses produce seeds. . Several pied wagtails were seen on the bare earth, blackbirds were foraging on the damp grass and a fine treecreeper was making its way along the branch and up the trunk of one of the old oak trees over the river.
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