I saw Tree Bumblebees and Early Bumblebees in Rowley Fields

Buoyed by the success of my walk earlier today when I saw bumblebees on blackberry blossom up the Welcombe Hills, I paid particular attention to the same blossoms when we went for our evening walk around Rowley Fields. It was not a disappointment. 

It's important that a margin of 3-4 m  around these fields is left un-mowed because these areas create a particular habitat where small mammals thrive and flora that support insect life    can grow. It's because we have these areas that there are voles. When there are voles we have the barn owl who feeds on these. 

In these areas the blackberry bushes grow and as well as providing blackberries for our pies and, in my case, wine, attract bees and other insects.

It's still fairly early in the season and there are two bumblebees that seem to be prominent. The Early Bumblebee and the Tree Bumblebee are both very active. Here are some pictures taken of both this evening.

                                                                                  These first two images are of the Tree Bumblebee. It's small and quite distinctive, having a black head, ginger-brown thorax and white tail.

This bumblebee was first recorded in the UK in 2001 (see Bumblebee Conservation Trust) and is now very common. They like to take over nest boxes and it may be that you have had them in your garden or even in your roof.  

The other bumblebee active at the moment is the Early Bumblebee. Here are a couple of images of them taken this evening in Rowley Fields.