Just a few photographs to share with you my progress in recognising different bumblebees. There are lots about at the moment.
This is a buff-tailed bumblebee queen I photographed in March. She has golden yellow stripes and a buff tail.
This is a tree bumblebee worker with full pollen baskets on a raspberry flower. This is a relatively new species to this country. It colonized the south of England in 2001 and is working its way north.
click on the photographs for a larger view
Tree bumblebees have a gingery brown thorax and a black abdomen with a white tail. There are lots of these in my garden.
Here is a mystery bee. The only all black bumblebees are rather rare so I think this is probably a tree bumblebee. I have e-mailed this picture to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust as they will identify them for you.
It was very dull when I took the last two, so I used the in-camera flash. The shutter speed was too slow to catch really sharp shots and the little bees won't keep still!!
As you can probably tell my love of art is only matched by my love of the natural world, photography is a great way to bring both together.
10 comments:
Bee photography is really tricky. The subjects don't want to stop and pose or even smile. Too busy busy busy. You photos are very interesting.I'm amazed at the detail and the differences in the little insects.
I love to watch them at work filling the baskets on their legs and sipping the nectar for making honey later. Art and a love for the natural world go together well.
What fantastic photos, you must have so much patience. I never knew there were so many different bees around.
Jill,
You're right about the numbers. Loads of bumblebees around this year. Hope it's a bumper year for them. Your photos are stunning. I hope you get the last one identified as a rare one. Imagine how great it would be to have a rarity in your garden. I think you'd get a real buzz out of that..... I know, sorry, couldn't resist it...Lesley
Great pictures! We have a few bees - they love our cornflowers. Must try to take a pic or two
Fantastic! Next door has a very long cotoneaster hedge which fronts her garden and day after day I just go and stand in front of it and watch and listen. I have never known so many bees of so many varieties visit it as have done this year! Your photos are stunning.
Fabulous photos Jill.
Jane
Great photos, Jill. We've had a lot of bees and many different varieties this year - garden is a mass of overgrown shrubs covered in blossom as I can't bear to deprive the bees!
Fabulous photos. Do let us all know what the black bee is - i'm fascinated. Kate
great photos
Like the photos Jill, especially the last one. Lesley
Post a Comment