Saturday, September 21, 2013,
These are shots of a Common Eastern Bumblebee gathering nectar from Spotted Jewelweed flowers. Don’t I sound informed? Almost like I know what I’m talking about? Any of my regular readers will know that this just can’t be so and both of you are right. Any apparent expertise in either botany or entomology here is due solely to my friend Elaine from Four Harbors Audubon Society. This is a definite case of who you know as opposed to what you know. If not for Elaine, this entire post might have been worded “Bee butt in flower”.
By the way, I took these pics during the latest Four Harbors monthly walk at Avalon. It’s not always birds on these walks. You never know what you might find. There is so much out there just waiting to be discovered. Come and join us for a walk, or just take a walk of your own. Mother Nature is everywhere and she’s waiting for you. JK
Awesome pictures. That is one very busy bee this late in the season.
Thanks Mary.
This bee was one of several that were working this patch of Jewelweed. They’re not ready to quit just yet. 🙂
Interestingly enough, on this same walk I encountered dozens of bees slumbering amongst Goldenrod flowers at the far end of this same set of fields. It was still very early and the sun wasn’t high enough to shine directly on them yet. They may not have been bumblebees because bumblebees are able to generate their own heat, which is why they can operate later in the season than other species. JK