The light’s really strange on this one. The sun was behind a thundercloud and that did some strange things with the colors. Great look at the bee – especially the wings and the pollen baskets. The background is pretty interesting, too.
Tag: California Poppy
Still Some California Poppies
Here’s a great leafcutter on a California poppy. They seem to be fading. This is the “abdomen up” bee and I really like its shape and eyes.
Good to be back for a day. Headed up to a Festival in Whitefish, Montana tomorrow. Got to shoot a little yesterday late in the day. Really miss that when I’m on the road – and I can’t seem to figure out how to make time to shoot when I’m in such neat places. Really need to do that. Great sunrise yesterday morning and hadn’t brought a lens that would do it justice. Shaking my head…
Strange Light – Metallic Green Sweat Bee in a California Poppy
Lately I’ve been shooting very late in the day. Nearly dusk. So much to do. So Tuesday of this week, I thought I’d try in the morning before the sun crested the mountain. The light is lots cooler than in the evening. But I managed to get a good grab on the California poppy that was just opening. Love these little metallic-looking sweat bees. And this one has her wings wide…just leaving that bloom.
I’ll be at the Logan Summerfest Art Festival or Faire or whatever it’s called today. It’s at the fairgrounds and my booth is full of neat shots. Come have a look if you’re in the area. It runs from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., I think. Madness.
In Flight in Shadow over the California Poppy
Pollen on her back. That shadow – in which you can see loaded pollen baskets. Not great art, overall. But great bee and a great flower on a great day in October.
Love it!
Bonus – Mimic on a California Poppy
Here’s a hoverfly on a California poppy. I think that’s salvia in the background. Notice how the fly mimics a bee or wasp with the yellow and black on the abdomen. Neat! I like the little pollen grains on the petals, too.
Tucked into the California Poppy
Dang. These pictures look so much better at full resolution.
Love the pollen bucket, the pollen all over, and the grains on her eye. They don’t stay on the poppies very long, and the slightest breeze and they’re all over the place. Tough to get an in-focus shot like this. Love this flower, too. Has prettymuch taken over part of a rock garden late in the season. Silly thing opens late and closes early. Anyway…
On the California Poppy – Again
I don’t think this one is a sweat bee, but it looks rather like one. But I don’t think the sweat bees have such pronounced pollen buckets. And this one’s are full full full. Such a beautiful creature. I also like the shadows on the flower in this shot. Neat bee!
Honeybee on an Allium
That bonus color in the background is a California poppy. A little contrived, maybe, but it’s a neat shot nonetheless. This is one of the later-blooming alliums (allia? alliae? ha!) and kind of spins out and looks raggedy when it starts to release pollen. They’re kin to onions and one of their common names is Ornamental Onion. So many varieties, too, and the pollinators love them when they’re throwing pollen.
Finally – on a California Poppy
These are one of my favorite flowers. But for a lot of reasons, they’re tough for bee photography. Light, wind, frequency, etc.,… (Was that the proper use of the comma? Ugh.)
So after complaining out loud some yesterday, I finally got a shot. Here’s a sweat bee on the poppy. Cute, no?
