All of a buzz

Yet another bank holiday Monday is upon me and what to do, so many choices!  As I was working at Trentham for a short while in the afternoon I decided to pay a visit to Parrot's Drumble, and ancient woodland on the edge of Stoke on Trent.

The woodland is best known for its bluebells, but it tucked away behind an industrial park just down around the corner from Freeport Talke shopping centre.  The reserve is well worth a visit in spring for the bluebells, and the woodland has some great bird life including spotted flycatcher.  Bird were also another justification for a visit as my volunteer surveyor for the reserve had recorded a singing redstart, the first reserve record.  Sadly no redstart was heard, but I was also to confirm breeding for nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, blue tit, great tit, song thrush, robin, wren and goldfinch.

As time started to catch up with me I noticed a concentration of bee activity around a particular plant.  I'm still none the wiser to the plant, its another one I need to check up on.  The only identifiable photo I eventually managed was of this male early bumblebee, or at least I think it is!

After the reserve I helped clear up an event at the Trentham Estate in the Italian Gardens.  I hadn't been for several years and the project has really come on and with loads of other things to do.  One of my instant favourites were the patches of alliums planted and the grass allowed to grow.  Great for bees, and a visual treat too.