7th August 2009

A busy morning, with various phone calls and meetings.  I popped my head round the door at the Scottish Natural Heritage office, and found that the giant bee suit and other materials had arrived safely from the BBCT office, in readiness for the County Show tomorrow.  Then a stop to meet Graham Scott of Scottish Agricultural College, and discuss some agri-environment measures and how the Trust can support Graham and his clients with their applications.  Graham also has a ‘Birds & Bees’ mix on his land, so I hope to visit and confirm Great Yellow there.

 

I met up with Louise Bachelor for lunch, who had arrived to interview local farmer and bumblebee expert, John Crossley.  I was representing the Trust, and there would be more recording with the bustle of the Show tomorrow.  Still remarkably good weather and John said that last year had been good too, unlike most of mainland Scotland.  It was a lovely day anyway, but having two good years in a row has hopefully helped nests rear daughter queens, and boost Great Yellow Bumblebee numbers.  There were certainly plenty of Great Yellow Bumblebees, even visiting the Lesser Knapweed in John’s car park!  We saw plenty of workers, another weary old queen, and at some Woundwort (a hybrid form predominates in Orkney) also saw a male, with its longer antennae.  We also saw a few Moss Carder Bees among the more abundant Common Carder Bees, and several Heath Bumblebees, including one male.  We also had time to look at a legume mix provided by BBCT, which had done well, but there was as yet no sign of the sainfoin or sweet clover coming through.  However, the Common Vetch was flowering, and a pioneering Red Clover flower was visited by a Garden Bumblebee.