Ooh, I forgot I didnt post the other pics I took recently of more Bee-flies around the garden. Anyway, I thought I would shove them in here this time.

I have had about 5 in our front garden and a couple in the back garden this year. Seems a bumper year for them but probably not good news for our dear little bees.









Linda

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LindaB
http://lindabuckell.zenfolio.com/

Wonderful shots Linda, I always admire how spot on the focus is in your pics - wish I could achieve that.

I wouldn't want to be one of the Borrowers with creatures around looking like that! Jean

LOL - thanks Jean.

I saw a couple of very small ones this morning in the front garden. I dont know whether they were newly hatched or whether they were just small.

Linda

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LindaB
http://lindabuckell.zenfolio.com/

Hi Linda, great shots as usual. Thanks for letting us see them.

N

PS: What flower is it on? I'm struggling to put a name to it.

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http://www.pbase.com/nigelpartridge

Hi Nigel and thanks.

You will kick yourself LOL - its aubretia. I have various shades of it on the rockery and down the front path which they seem to love. I have been buying some more to pack out the rockery even more with it - I love the deep scarlet type colour one but for some reason its way more expensive.

Linda

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LindaB
http://lindabuckell.zenfolio.com/

Ah! so that's what the flower is! This macro lark does play tricks on the eye, things you can be familiar with look very different sometimes when they're very close-up. I'll get some more Valerian underway this year and arrange to get it to you if you're still interested.

Thanks for your comments on the wasp images. Glad I was using a cable-release, so I could keep one eye on what she was about to do!

N

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http://www.pbase.com/nigelpartridge

Hi Nigel - yes, the macro shots do change everything lol and yes please, I would love some more, let me know when you are ready.

Cable release is a good idea with wasps, let alone massive ones lol. I am always very reluctant to try and photograph wasps unless they appear so preoccupied with eating they wouldnt notice me (Im a coward lol).

Linda

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LindaB
http://lindabuckell.zenfolio.com/

Wonderful shots Linda, every strand of hair shining in the sun. Gorgeous. I don't think I have ever seen bee-flies here.

Thanks Ange - well take a closer look as they wont be around for much longer I dont think. There are a lot about this year and people are seeing them in places they dont usually see them.

Look about 18 inches from the ground around any flowers and listen for a different kind of buzz to what a bee or wasp makes - its slightly higher pitched (I think lol). I am sure you will have some around your garden somewhere. Let me know.

Linda

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LindaB
http://lindabuckell.zenfolio.com/

They're only 10-12mm Ange, so look for a very small bee shape Graham