Zebra jumping spiders

These two zebra jumping spiders (Salticus scenicus?) were perched on the same fence post this lunchtime. The top one was busy scurrying around, whilst the second was hauling away a freshly ambushed fly.

Bombus hypnorum queen

It's the first time I've seen a Bombus hypnorum queen, but it seems like these guys are well settled in Bedfordshire now. Picture taken in the gardens at The Lodge.

Another comma

Another comma pic (this time it's upside-down though)!

Cuckoo bumblebee at The Lodge

A very muddy queen cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus vestalis I think) recently emerged from the soil.

Daubenton's Bat at MVCP

This Daubenton's bat was first seen about 2.30pm today by a couple I met in the MVCP Wetland 3 hide. I saw it 3 or 4 times between 3-4pm. The bat appeared for about one minute each time I saw it. I was most struck but the very fast fluttering wing beats and the relatively slow and steady speed of its flight. The bat made several circuits (about 50m by 50m) around part of the open water in-front of the hide each time I saw it. Its flight-path was almost a square with fairly long straight lines flown followed by abrupt turns at the end of each line. The flight was almost always within about 1-2 feet of the waters surface and the bat frequently dipped down to the surface of the water. The bat appeared to me to be of small-medium size (a bit smaller than a Sand Martin perhaps), with smallish, but noticeable, ears and the wings often gave a paddle-shaped impression, appearing quite narrow at the body.(Later note: This was due to a damaged wing..) The weather was bright, sunny with a very gentle breeze, temperature about 10 oC. Thanks to Bob Cornes (Beds Bat Recorder) for the identificaton and everyone else for their comments . Photos and associated waffle by Martin Green.

Stewartby Lake Sunrise 21st March

A few sunrise images taken from the Stewartby Lake Gullwatch, photos by Martin Green.

Beasties at The Lodge

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A male (bottom picture) and female (top three pictures) Andrena bicolor.

A comma in the gardens.

An unidentified spider on the heath.

A comma at The Lodge

A comma sunning itself at The Lodge. There have been a couple at the same spot since the 27th of February (when the sun comes out) but it's taken until yesterday for it to sit still enough to photograph.

Willy or Hollow?

Taken at Roxton Lock, 28 Feb.

Another bumblebee

Another Bombus terrestris queen at The Lodge.

The mite-y bumblebee

An uncomfortable looking Bombus terrestris queen covered in mites at The Lodge yesterday.

Spring bees

A rather wooly Bombus pratorum (Early Bumblebee) photographed at The Lodge this weekend and a couple of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in my garden in Sandy.