Tag: Cotoneaster

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A Long Wait

Posted on by BITM
A Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) resting on a Lime tree (Tilia) leaf.

Often one of the earliest bumblebees to emerge, I thought I wouldn’t notice any Tree bumblebees this year. Colonies of this bee are mostly active from March to July so by now my chances had reduced.

The first record of these bees in this country was in Wiltshire, in 2001. Now they are seen in Scotland (by 2013) and Northern Ireland (in 2017) having become one of the most common eight in the UK (see PDF from the BBCT below); especially making use of bird boxes for their nests.

Early in the year, they forage for nectar and pollen at plants such as Winter heathers (Erica carnea), Pussy willow (Salix caprea), Apple (Malus), Cotoneaster, Ceanothus and Chives. While later on, in early summer, they will favour the flowers of Lime trees, Fuchsias Raspberries and Blackberries. 

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Common Insects but an Uncommon Viewing Experience

Posted on by BITM

It was great to still witness pollinators flying around last week. Even though, due to the colder weather numbers have greatly reduced, some insects are still foraging. I noticed the odd hardy Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) as well as a few Honey bees (Apis mellifera) visiting autumn flowering perennials and shrubs. Currently the most wonderful spectacle is Common Ivy (Hedera helix) in full bloom. Loved by pollinators including butterflies, bees and hoverflies, ivy is a useful plant to have in flower at this time of year. It supports up to fifty species altogether, such as providing food for Holly blue Butterflies (Celastrina argiolus), along with the Small dusty wave (Idaea seriata), Angle shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
and Swallow-tailed (Ourapteryx sambucaria) moths. Mature Ivy plants flower in September and October on clustered umbels. Eventually, pollinated flowers develop into fruit that provides food for Thrushes (Turdidae), Blackbirds (Turdus merula), Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) and Wood pigeons (Columba palumbus). Ivy also provides shelter for hibernating insects over winter.

However the most prevalent insects I witnessed covering the ivy flowers last week were the Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris). They weren’t nesting amongst it but feeding on the abundant nectar. My confidence in their complete focus on the ivy flowers, and not being bothered by my presence, enabled me to unusually observe them up close. Each time I came across ivy covered with wasps, I would take a few moments to watch and listen. Unlike bees, their buzzing was very faint; you had to listen carefully to hear it. I had never been close enough to appreciate the wonderful pattern on their abdomen before or watch their activity as they hurriedly switched from one flower to another.

I would have been observing male and worker wasps obtain nectar from the ivy (which also visit other umbellifier flowers). Queens are active in spring, collecting nectar from Cotoneaster and other spring flowering shrubs.

These much hated creatures are useful pollinators (as the photo below proves) when not pestering us as we eat outdoors. We can’t really blame them trying to access an easy source of food or protecting nests when we stumble upon them.

Wasps also help keep insect numbers down which once captured, are chewed up and fed to the larvae.

Although I haven’t seen any yet, I am ever hopeful that I will see Ivy bees (Colletes hederae) as I look at ivy. Recorded for the first time in southern Britain as far back as 2001, these solitary bees feed on ivy nectar and are therefore only seen when ivy flowers. Since they were first noted in Britain the species has been spreading northwards, nesting in sandy soil. For further information see (Wildlife Trust).

More fungi started to appear last week too; I saw
– Common bonnets (Mycena galericulata)

– Shaggy ink caps (Xylaria hypoxylon) and

– Candlesnuff (also referred to as candlestick or stag’s horn) fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon).

You have to look closely to identify this minute fungi, found on decaying wood, it has a blackened base.

Lastly I was utterly surprised to witness a Fox (Vulpes vulpes) run across my allotment as I worked early on Saturday afternoon. It looked healthy so presumably had been disturbed with all the activity from allotmenteers tidying their plots.

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Things Come in Threes

Posted on by BITM

At least in several gardens last week, things with three leaves appeared as several Trefoils began to flower.

In some lawns the yellow flowering Slender hop clover (Trifolium micranthum) has shown itself along with Red clover (Trifolium pratense).

Slender hop clover
Red clover

Red clover is also called Bee-bread (along with White clover- Trifolium repens) due to its popularity with bees. It’s nectar is especially loved by Common carder bees (Bombus pascuorum), Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and Red-tailed bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius). Red clover, which is less commonly found in nature than White clover, is used for livestock feed and crop rotation (due to its nitrogen fixation abilities). It is also used in herbal medicine to treat respiratory and skin ailments,along with menopausal and PMS symptoms because the flower contains isoflavones. When taken internally, isoflavones become phytoestrogens which has similar affects in the body as estrogen (see Plantlife)

I will have to wait a little longer to see White clover flowering as it blooms from June. However White clover is commonly found in verges and grassland so I’m sure to see some eventually.

Unfortunately I have never spotted a four leaf clover (or five leaved). I am ever hopeful, just for the challenge because they are so hard to spot in the wild.

Several trees are blooming at the moment. Along with Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna- the May tree flowers referred to in the rhyme ‘Cast ne’er a clout ere May is out’) the Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is also in flower; they have white flowers with a pink tinge.

I also see the Red horse chestnut tree (Aesculus x carnea Briotii) on my travels, both trees have very showy flowers.

It was great to see lots of bees about last week and various species too.

The first type of bee I saw was a Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes) around some forget me nots (Myosotis).

I also noticed lots of Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris),
Honey bees and Early bumblebees (Bombus pratorum) throughout the week too.

This Cotoneaster hedge was alive with Honey bees. Make sure the sound is on to listen to their relaxing buzzing.
The Early bumblebees were also visiting the Cotoneaster flowers.
I noticed five Buff-tailed bumblebees coming and going from a nest under some decking in one garden.
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Growing Food for Birds

Posted on by BITM

I saw contrasting images last week which made me think of feeding birds with plants from the garden.
I first observed the Rowan (Sorbus) tree outside, now stripped bare of it’s berries, before noticing some Cotoneaster

and Ivy (Hedera) full of berries. Clearly the pollinators had been busy during the Summer and Autumn months.

Along with supplementary food, on the ground and bird feeders, birds can also rely on trees and other plants in the garden for food in winter. Along with the examples already mentioned there are other berries, fruit, seeds and nuts which are enjoyed by birds.

Some other plants providing fruit and berries are;
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus)
Dog rose (Rosa canina)
Berberis
Bird cherry (Prunus padus)
Crab apple (Malus sylvestris)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
Pyracantha
Sarcococca hookeriana
Mahonia

Plants providing seeds and nuts include;
Oak (Quercus)
Beech (Fagus)
Hazel (Corylus)
Spindle (Euonymus europaeus)
Teasel (Dipsacus)
Sunflower (Helianthus)
Miscanthus
Bergamot (Monarda)
Verbena bonariensis
Lavender (Lavandula)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Asters

Leaving seedheads on perennials not only provides food for birds, they also give shelter to beneficial insects. In fact a little bit of leaf litter also has this affect which in turn helps feed birds who eat the insects.

Common birds to see in winter include;
Redwings (Turdus iliacus)
Waxwings (Bombycilla)
Starlings (Sturnidae
Blackbirds (Turdus merula
Robins (Erithacus rubecula
Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs)
Bramblings (Fringilla)
Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis)
Bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Dunnocks (Prunella modularis)
Goldcrests (Regulus regulus)
Blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Long-tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus)
Coal tits (Periparus ater)
Great tits (Parus major)
Fieldfares (Turdus pilaris)

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which takes place on the 25-27th Jan 2020, has been going for over 40 years. Surveying birds visiting your Garden or local park for one hour is calming and enjoyable. This citizen science continues to give the charity useful information on the numbers of birds in the UK.

Further information on feeding birds can be found in the book, ‘RSPB Pocket Bird Feeder Guide’ by Robert Burton (published by Dorking Kindersley) or on the Gardeners World website.

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🐝Beeing Happy in the Sunshine 🌞

Posted on by BITM

The warmer weather this week brought with it many bee sightings, including Honey bees (Apis mellifera). The plants where they were most abundant were the Californian Lilac (the Ceanothus seen in the first photo) and the Cotoneaster in the second photo. Both Shrubs, full of small flowers, are loved by Honey bees. In fact there were so many bees on them that the amazing buzzing sound filled the air.

There were also lots of Tree bumblebees (Bombus hypnorum) on the Cotoneaster too, as shown below.

This hasn’t been the only time I noticed Tree Bumblebees this week. This the weekend I was walking around a local charity allotment when I saw a bird box being occupied by bees. This is a commonly used structure for Tree Bumblebees.

I was also lucky to notice three female Hairy-footed flower bees (Anthophora plumipes) while weeding a border. These are solitary bees who care for their own young; however they can live within close proximity to one another. The three that I noticed had nests in the bare earth about 10cms apart. The females are black with yellow legs. Unfortunately I was not able to obtain a decent photo of them for this post.

Other observations this week have included more Seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata), Holly blue butterflies (Celastrina argiolus) and Orange-tip butterflies (Anthocharis cardamines).

I have also managed to go on a couple of short walks this week and discovered more wildflowers blooming. These were;

– Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).

The Ox-eye daisy flowers were originally used for the ‘He loves me, he loves me not’ petal plucking activity.

* Dog-rose (Rosa canina). The hips from this plant are enjoyed by blackbirds (Turdus merula), Redwings. (Turdus iliacus) and Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus). They are also used to make syrups and jellies to be used in winter (due to the very high vitamin C content). The hips from this rose also contain irritating hairs which can be used as itching powder.

-Smooth sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus)

– Common Vetch (Vicia sativa). This plant is a member of the Legume family so it causes nitrogen fixation in the soil therefore it can be used as a soil fertilizer.

On my way home from one of my walks I manage to capture this Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) on a photo too.

This weekend I saw this Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica) as I enjoyed a coffee.

I couldn’t resist adding this photo, sadly it doesn’t do it justice. When the sun shone, the green and purple neck feathers where incredibly vibrant and against the unusual white; I thought it was beautiful.