About 4pm on a fine and sunny afternoon my wife, grandson and I were walking in Highwooods Country Park, Colchester in the area of Friars Grove. As we came to the NW corner of the wood (TM010269) we became aware of intense insect activity in a bramble, covered dry ditch bank.
50+ bees resembling small honey bees, but with more prominent body stripes were swarming in and out of the brambles. We assumed them to be miner bees (sp?), but were unable to see their excavations without disturbing the vegetation. Around the edge of of the swarm 5-10, constantly moving bee flies (Bombylius major) hovered attempting to gain access to the area. However approaches were repulsed by the bees who vigorously attacked the flies, causing them to dart off, easily out manouvering the bees.
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The weblog below is for naturalists to use to report interesting sightings, ask questions, report on field meetings and generally post pictures and any information or questions generally relevant in some way to the wildlife and geology of Essex. You will need to register and be logged-on to post to the forum, and you need to upload pictures first, for use in posts. Find out more
The weblog below is for naturalists to use to report interesting sightings, ask questions, report on field meetings and generally post pictures and any information or questions generally relevant in some way to the wildlife and geology of Essex. You will need to register and be logged-on to post to the forum, and you need to upload pictures first, for use in posts. Find out more