Another school group ransacks the pond

The sun is shining and the Solaris Centre plays host to more budding wildlife safari-ists. Armed with pots and nets they set about the pond and wildlflower meadow with gusto.

Looking around the flower beds revealed several secies of bees, including the lovely Red Tailed Bumble Bee

and some rather large White Tailed Bumble Bees. All duly potted and inspected.

A Ruby Tailed Wasp found a school shirt more interesting than its normal hunting grounds of brick walls.

Not the best picture of a Ruby Tailed Wasp, but you can see where they get their name. Their Latin name is Chrysis ignita which seems rather apt to me.
The abundance of Ragwort is due to the fact our Rabbits won't eat it. But it does mean that there are plenty of Cinnabar Moths to be seen. In fact this group was the first to find their caterpillars this year.


I was unable to pot a Flesh Fly, all big red eyes and white 'trainers'.



And what of the pond dippers - they did't manage to find the two big Sticklebacks. A bright green Dragonfly nymph was their most exciting find.

I apologise for the lack of pictures and all the lnks, if I get a chance I'll find some photos and replace the links.

Where to next? I'm still looking forward to the Devonshire Road Rock Gardens butterfly walk...despite the weather forecast...it will be sunny...please!