I continue to get my daily exercise outdoors and enjoy seeing rainbows drawn by children in windows or on driveways. Although we had sun last week there was no rain so these cheerful rainbows of unity were the only ones that have appeared.
The lovely weather encouraged many insects out. Last week I managed to count eight Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies. I also saw one Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) butterfly visiting some Dog violets (Viola riviniana). I have never noticed insects pollinate these pretty flowers before so it was lovely to observe that. These dainty plants are very useful additions to wildlife gardens for another reason too; several fritillery butterflies lay eggs on them. During that same walk I also saw lots of seven-spot (Coccinella septempunctata) ladybirds as well as a few Dark-edged bee-flies (Bombylius major).
I have never seen these parasitic flies before whose host is the Tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva). The Tawny mining bee is commonly found in urban areas especially in lawns, although I have yet to see one (to find out more see the Bumblebee Conservation Trust). There is a recording scheme for Bee-flies so I shall pass this information on to the (BRC).
On Friday mornings exercise I saw a Song thrush (Turdus philomelos). The last time I saw one was a couple of years ago but this probably isn’t surprising because they are on the red UK conservation status list (see RSPB). It was great to see this one, although I wonder if I accidentally disturbed it looking for food; I came across it on a path before it flew into some trees.
As I walked further, I noticed more plants beginning to bloom. These were;
-Bulbous buttercups (Ranunculus bulbosus),
-Danish scurveygrass (Cochlearia danica),
-Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata),
-Yellow corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) and
-Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle).
Even without natural rainbows nature was still full of colour last week.
Bee in the Moment 