Three Bumblebees

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 On my walk yesterday I was able to photograph three different sorts of bumblebees. The thistle like flowers of knapweed and saw- wort are a magnet for solitary bees and there were lots about. Bumblebee conservation produce this useful booklet for id purposes.


The first bee is very distinctive with it's red tail and is the "red tailed bumblebee"


I think this next one is a carder bee.


And finally a buff tailed bumblebee.
These are all common solitary bees found hereabouts. Another group of bees are the "cuckoo" bees so called because they lay their eggs in the nests of other bees. I'll have a go at those another day .


Diary
It rained heavily last night. The dried up steam now has pools of standing water in it but there are some dry patches and there is no flow. I looked for the Tawney owl again this morning without success.













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