1st August 2009

In Bettyhill, there were a few dark clouds but largely bright, thankfully.  I had a quick look along the River Naver at Aird, where there was abundant Lesser Knapweed flowering.  The breeze had picked up, but in a sheltered area there was a worker Great Yellow Bumblebee, so all very encouraging for this year’s nesting season.  However, then I received a message from Paul, as it was chucking it down in Caithness and should we go ahead.  I reassured him and shortly after, five of us were searching the Glebe and saw three Great Yellow Bumblebee workers.  We also got to grips with the difficult Broken-belted Bumblebee, but a carder bee defied identification, though was possibly a Moss Carder.  Gordon, who had come over from Caithness, kindly sent through some pictures of the first Great Yellow.  So, a very successful walk indeed!

 

The Gala was a busy, colourful affair, and our stall was popular with children making their Plaster-of-Paris model fossils and seashells.  We had some seed packets to help ‘save the wee bees’ and handed these out, along with bumblebee information and leaflets about Farr Glebe.  Excellent barbecue and strawberries and cream, very well priced!

 

Slightly exhausted, we packed up, and en route to the Strathy Inn I nipped in at Armadale to look at the habitat there, which had looked promising in the spring.  Of most interest, however, were some solitary bees, relatives of the rare Northern Colletes on Tiree and the Western Isles, going by the name of Colletes succinctus.