i have just got e-mail from bee conversation that hte bee in my top picture is a male field cuckoo bumblee... and they are not so common.. so very pleased i contacted them..
i just love looking at all the photos on here - some of them are good enough to be entered into competitions. This is a bit of a cheat really. When we had the bad winter of 2010 , we were visited by a colony of waxwings. A rare occurrence for us known as a '' waxwing winter '' They come over from Scandinavia and are not at all worried about being approached by people. We managed to get a load of photos before they left and here is one of them having a feast in our neighbours' cotoneaster.
I accidentally uncovered two stag beetle larvae the other day - I have only ever seen about three stag beetles in the 24 years I've lived here so was delighted. I covered them up with their rotting log, went for the camera, and by the time I returned they had burrowed away. They looked very large but I don't know how much longer before they pupate and emerge. (I shall admire them from indoors as I'm not keen on large beetles flying near me!) I took this 3 or 4 years ago, presumably 'Dad'!!
Thanks Hollie-Hock. I was very brave, you know. With my little, not-very-zoomy camera, I stood as near as I dared and prayed he wouldn't take off. I got about 4 shots and fled indoors. I must find out how to propagate buddleia - my white one is very old indeed and I don't suppose they last forever.
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i have just got e-mail from bee conversation that hte bee in my top picture is a male field cuckoo bumblee... and they are not so common.. so very pleased i contacted them..
i just love looking at all the photos on here - some of them are good enough to be entered into competitions. This is a bit of a cheat really. When we had the bad winter of 2010 , we were visited by a colony of waxwings. A rare occurrence for us known as a '' waxwing winter '' They come over from Scandinavia and are not at all worried about being approached by people. We managed to get a load of photos before they left and here is one of them having a feast in our neighbours' cotoneaster.
Insect alert for the squeamish.
I accidentally uncovered two stag beetle larvae the other day - I have only ever seen about three stag beetles in the 24 years I've lived here so was delighted. I covered them up with their rotting log, went for the camera, and by the time I returned they had burrowed away. They looked very large but I don't know how much longer before they pupate and emerge. (I shall admire them from indoors as I'm not keen on large beetles flying near me!)
I took this 3 or 4 years ago, presumably 'Dad'!!
great pictures jean and flo.. i have had a large amoutn of red admiral butterflies today on my buddhlia
and then little fella along with them..
i ahve never had so many red admirals in my garden at once for a long long time.. was so chuffed.. sorry so many pictures
.. couldnt help myself
hey guys.. i dont mind how old the pictures are.. they are all great to see..
It's lovely that you caught them with their wings open, gf, not always easy to do. Your white buddleia is doing a lot better than mine!!
@flobear.. i took loads and picked the best.. yeah it is doing well.. i keep cuting off the dead heads,, keep sit going longer..
Thanks Hollie-Hock. I was very brave, you know. With my little, not-very-zoomy camera, I stood as near as I dared and prayed he wouldn't take off. I got about 4 shots and fled indoors.
I must find out how to propagate buddleia - my white one is very old indeed and I don't suppose they last forever.