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.

Minotaur beetle at The Lodge

We came across this minotaur beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) on the new pathway up by the Lodge gatehouse. There have been lots of small holes appearing in various parts of the heath recently and I’m reliably told that it’s due to these guys emerging for the start of the year. It seems that they prefer cooler temperatures and that they’re most active around February-March-April and again in the autumn.

Wildlife in Sharnbrook

Just the usual scene in Sharnbook Village this morning. Perhaps brought in to trim the gardens - at least, that's what they were doing when I drove by.

Chinese Water Deer - MVCP

Chinese Water Deer in the "long Meadow", between the MVCP access track and the Pillinge, photo by Martin Green.

Deer at Tempsford

Two of the three Deer at Tempsford Airfield today, which I think are Fallow Deer?

Bat at Leagrave

These two images were taken by Neil Wright at Leagrave Marsh, 24th November 2008. Which species is it?

MVCP Wetland 1 - 18th October 2008

Looking out over the reeds of MVCP Wetland 1 from one of the bund lookout points. Photo by Martin Green.

Autumn moths in Lower Stondon

Three new species for the year came to our garden moth trap on the night of 14th to 15th October. Photos by Andy Banthorpe.

Red-line Quaker, Agrochola lota

Green-brindled Crescent, Allophyes oxycanthae

Dark Chestnut, Conistra ligula

Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina) at the Lodge 10/10/08

Pale-lemon Sallow

This moth is the 6th Vice-county record of Pale-lemon Sallow, Xanthia ocellaris. It was caught in Eaton Ford (which is in Hunts administrative but VC30, Bedfordshire, for recording purposes) on 6th October by Tony Lawrence. Photo by Andy Banthorpe

Uncommon moths at The Lodge

These two turned up on the walls at The Lodge, RSPB Sandy, on 26th September. The Convolvulus Hawk-moth is the 39th record for the county and the first to be found at this site.

The Large Thorn is a species that is nationally scarce and seems to be declining. It has been found at this site on a few occasions but not since 2005.

Convolvulus Hawk-moth by Andy Banthorpe

Large Thorn by Andy Banthorpe

Great Barford - 21st September

A Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) was ovipositing in a dead plant stem near the edge of the Great Ouse. She was repeatedly disturbed by passing boats but always returned after a few minutes, allowing me a chance to move the stem a bit nearer shore during each disturbance, and thus take this picture without getting wet!

Picture by Keith Balmer

Southern Hawker MVCP

This fairly obliging Southern Hawker was in the Sensory Garden near the Visitors Centre. Photos by Martin Green.

Silver-Y Moth and Ruddy Darter MVCP

A day-flying moth (Silver-Y Moth) feeding in the Sensory Garden near the Visitors Centre.

This male Ruddy Darter was one of the many Darters near the MVCP Visitors Centre. Photos by Martin Green.

Oak Hugging

I know Cooper's Hill is loved for its heathland habitat, but the Oaks are always worth a good peer at. All the following were observed today (14/09/08) on the sunny side of a single Oak...

Nut Weevils (Curculio sp.?) were queuing up to drill in this acorn, presumably to oviposit:


A hoverfly (possibly Didea fasciata) was ovipositing near aphids, presumably food for its young, running the gauntlet of the ants defending them. (Sorry it's not a great picture - the wind was moving things around alot).

An impressive-looking member of the Parasitica here resting briefly for a clean:

A larva (sawfly perhaps?) making a very distinctive-looking shelter by sewing an oak leaf in half along its mid vein:

And plenty of galls, tentatively identified as caused by the following Hymenoptera:

Neurotenus quercusbaccarum (Common spangle gall):

Andricus grossulariae:

Andricus quercuscalicis (Knopper gall):

Neuroterus albipes (Smooth spangle gall):

This one has me stumped. It doesn't seem quite right for Andricus lignicola (Cola-nut gall). Any suggestions please?

Photos by Keith Balmer