> Worn-out, Balding Bumblebees
I’m not going to apologise for writing another post on bees so quickly. It’s not going to be long before their buzz will have completely disappeared from our gardens and we will have to wait for 2009 to see them again.
There are some decidedly scruffy bumblebees in the garden at the moment. If they have been around all summer their wings get raggedy and their colour fades, and sometimes they get caught in the rain, like this B. pascuorum above.
Others just get so tired that they bumble onto the ground, like this B. pascuorum, and sit there looking completely knackered. Basically I think they are. This one could hardly find the strength to take off again.
Then there are the ones who look like they have lost quite a bit of their hair.
This very dark bumblebee (as yet unidentified) was looking decidedly strange with his punk brown hairstyle, while his lower half (abdomen) was almost completely bald.
No doubt I will look back on these photos in the depths of winter and these raggedy little creatures will cheer me up.
Oh god I can’t believe it, I’m already looking forward to next Spring!
Stunning close up shots Jane, very nice Mike.
Scruffy bees? The one in that top picture would probably be mortally offended… it looks like he spent ages with the hair gel getting that style just right! I’m always rescuing tired bees and putting them on flowers to get their strength back.
that first one is excellent!!!
Scruffy or not, they’re stunning pictures
Wonderful photos Jane! Poor bees, raising children can be so exhausting.
Hi Jane,
I enjoy your site very much. I hope you are using your XL cam, and maybe we will see some of the Stour Otters one day.
I have a look in at your wildlife Blog about once a week usually while I‘m doing some video editing,
I was playing with a bit of early summer footage on bees, so here is a shot clip,
A bee in my garden.
http://web.me.com/wildlifeonline/Site_3/Bumble_Bee.html
Thanks Mike. Not a patch on yours… but I blame the camera
Hermione. I know… very “punk like”. You will go to heaven picking up all those bees!
Pete. Thanks. I will look out for other soggy bees for you.
Dragonstar. You make me smile. I wonder if they see it like that. I wonder if they ever hide in a bush just to get away from the kids?
Hi Ron. Really glad you enjoy the blog. The XL is still very much in use (I was filming crickets/grasshoppers with it only the other day). No otters yet… but there’s still hope. Your films are great. When can we expect the “Ron C” blog?
Tricia. Thanks. I really do just point and shoot… it’s just sometimes they turn out ok. It’s all a matter of numbers. Take enough and you usually end up with one you like.
Stunning photos Jane – especially the first one. Have you asked the bumble bee people if they would like copies? I’ll send you the link – mislaid it momentarily.
Thanks Paula. I feel quite sorry for the first chap, he just looks so pathetic. Jane
Great photies Jane!
I’m down to the Carder bees (they’ll be here for a month or two yet), and a couple of knackered looking cuckoo bees.
Sad eh?!
Hey Doug. That’s all that I seem to have in the garden now. I haven’t even seem knackered cuckoo bees! Very sad! Jane