Wildlife June 2010

[Graham Catlow]

Hi,
For the second year a pair of robins raised a brood in a nest box in the garden and abandond it after the first clutch. This gave the Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) a place to make their nest.
These bees are known to use bird nest boxes for nesting. They are named early bumblebees as they are one of the first to appear but they are also one of the first to disappear rarely being found by July. They are one of the smaller bees.
They don't have large nests so there isn't much activity. It took me ages to get these photos. They are not the best but I have circled the bees so you may be able to see them.
If I get brave I may take a peek in the box and see if I can get a photo. Or I will wait until the nest is ended and post a photo then.

Graham

[Anthony Darby]

Looks ideal. Amazing that your nest box can serve two species in one season.

[Maggi Young]

Great... it's wildlife 'Timeshare' !

[mark smyth]

Lucky you! I have two bee boxes but no residents

[christian pfalz]

hi, here is my bee hotel, very intersting in spring and summer...

cheers
chris

[Anthony Darby]

Wow! 5*

[christian pfalz]

hard work 

[Stephenb]

You say that this bumblebee isn't seen after July - do the queens "hibernate" from then until next spring?

[Gail]

You may enjoy this birdbox we saw at the Chateau de Seneffe in the province of Hainaut in western Belgium.

It is a perfect day here today - blue sky and blissfully warm and the air full of the scent of Eleagnus angustifolia.  I was washing up at 10ish and noticed that a blackbird is building her nest in the scramble patch of roses and brambles just outside the kitchen window.  I was wondering if I could use this as an excuse not to wash up for the next few weeks so I don't disturb her when a family of 3 fallow deer strolled right past the window.  Makes me feel like it's the garden of Eden here.

[Anthony Darby]

Would you assume that this is a sculture rather than a functional structure, after all, birds have territories.

[mark smyth]

Your blackbird will not care what you do. There is a pair nesting among plants for sale at a local plant nursery. As a plant is lifted she just sits there

[mark smyth]

I was about to say that, Anthony. Only one pair of tits would nest. Maybe a colony of sparrows would use it

[Graham Catlow]

You say that this bumblebee isn't seen after July - do the queens "hibernate" from then until next spring?

Hi Stephen,
Yes the new queens hibernate for that length of time. Although some don't know that is what they are supposed to do and some young queens reproduce the same year and occassionally a third clutch from their young queens.

Graham

[mark smyth]

some stunning bird photography
http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?mode=potw

[christian pfalz]

hello, yesterday ... turtle at feed....with a guest on the rock 

cheers
chris