Urban Wildlife Jottings

As wildlife author and environmental educator I get to visit many habitats from coastline to countryside. However, our own gardens and surrounding urban habitats provide surprising opportunities for wildlife watching both large and small. You can also make small changes to your garden to attract even more wildlife. This weblog is a record of my observation which I hope you will enjoy and also encourage you to take a closer look at your own local patch, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

Thursday, 11 June 2009

Bees, hoverflies, butterflies and blackberry flowers

Sunny morning and the blackberry bush across the track is full of bees hoverflies.

One of many bumble bees (note the full pollen baskets on the back legs)

Bombus Ruderarius resembles a small red tailed bumble bee but can be distinguished by its red pollen baskets. (Red tailed bumble bees have black pollen baskets)

A male hairy footed bee Anthophora plumipes resting on a bramble leaf

Various species of hoverfly. This one is a bit different to the usual ones seen. It is one of the Chrysotoxum species. The larvae of some species live in ants nests and feed on aphids. Also 2 butterflies.