A colony of ivy mining bees – one of which is photographed here by Duncan Kirkwood – have proved an attraction to visitors to Swaddywell.
Duncan has made several visits to the site to capture images of the bees (Colletes hederae).
On his most recent visit relatively few bees were flying because of the dull weather.
Duncan explains: “But just as I started packing up, the cloud cleared and the sun shone on to the plywood board I use to ‘spread my weight’ (to avoid damaging the bees ground nest entrance holes)
“Several bees then ‘sunbathed’ on the plywood … so I took a few pics … with assistance from Michael Jarman who was supporting the plywood board.”
Ivy mining Bees are a relatively new species to the UK; this is the colony’s second ‘known’ Swaddywell season … the pupae hatched in late August and the adult bees will be active until early November – feeding mainly on Ivy flowers.
He adds: “I suspect this is a male Ivy Mining Bee … no pollen visible; only females gather pollen to provision their nest chambers.”
Langdyke trustee Chris Topper who organises work parties and keeps a watchful eye on the Swaddywell Reserve reports a number of other items of interest this summer.
This is his round-up:
- Despite low numbers of great crested newts being recorded in the annual survey in the spring 36 juvenile gcn’s were found under the mats in the quarry in early September, which was encouraging.
- In view of the recent correspondence re the pond near the cabin it may be worth mentioning that various options are being considered to rectify the situation including re-lining the pond through to digging a new pond adjacent to the existing pond.
- It’s been a good year for green tiger beetles with them being found in several different areas of the quarry.
- Invasive species – along with willow, saw sedge and calamagrostis Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) is becoming a serious problem particularly on the quarry faces.At Bainton Heath a wasp spider was recorded in the last week of September (a first) by Stuart Irons and the National Grid ecologist he was showing round. According to her this is the furthest north it has been recorded so far.