Followed this one from flower to flower. Really good look at this one today. So pretty.
Tag: Native
Another Sweat Bee – Another Crocus
I think this one is a different sub-species from the one I posted yesterday. Lots less golden. I’ve been finding black ones that seem pretty common this time of year, but I’ve not gotten a shot that I like. It’s really tough to shoot black things (dogs, cats, etc.) on lighter backgrounds because of how light works with the camera. Simply put, if the dark thing is lit right, the background is washed out and bright to distraction. If the background is lit right, the dark thing looks (effectively) like a sihlouette. There are ways to compensate, but nothing particularly solid. Just lots more difficult to hit right. I’ll catch one (using my top technique – luck) one of these days. Btw, shot this one a few minutes ago.
Neat Detail from the Ides
Running late with my day. Again. Just shot this little sweat bee in the crocuses. Seems the honeybees had all packed it in by 3:45 p.m. Lots of natives about, but this is the first one I saw that I liked. Can’t wait to see the whole session. Pretty little thing for sure.
Little Leafcutter on the Black-Eyed Susan
Quick today – apparently I’ve got lots to do with little time…one of the lots is posting today’s bee. So…here ya go. It’s cute enough. Really love the eyes on these. They really have their own look. Actually, it’s a really nice shot.
Low 50s today. Crocuses starting to gain some momentum, but didn’t see any bees in my cursory look. Will look harder tomorrow – with my camera in hand.
Native Leafcutter on a Sunflower
Selecting a pic for the day in the winter is kind of a crapshoot. In the summer, I try to shoot every day…and I generally have several hundred that might be interesting or worth posting. Hate to admit it, but there are still thousands I have not seen. So…to select, I go to a random folder and click through…looking for one that speaks to me. This one was the first one I clicked on. And I like it lots. Tons of color for a snowy day.
It really is almost spring. 😉
Metallic Miner Bee toward the Salvia
I don’t have very many shots of these. But they’re really cute little ones. Here’s one in flight. Wish the green in the bee were more apparent…but I am a little colorblind so maybe it’s there and I’m missing it.
At Work in the Daylily
I don’t get very many bee shots in the daylilies – but here’s a neat one of a pollen-laden sweat bee hard at work. Seems the honeybees like the daylilies more than the natives so I was pleased with this grab. That pollen basket is so full on her.
What’s this Flower Called?
It’s not the chocolate one. And it’s not one that really pulls in the pollinators. But…it grabbed a beautiful sweat bee in very bright light. And I like the shapes in and composition of this shot.
Three with a Foxtail Lily
The little one in the lower right is tough to see…but three in this one. This lily is really neat. I like the vertical-ness that it provides in a garden. Nice, often contrasting shape. Can’t figure out the bees on this one. Clearly has to do with when it’s throwing pollen, time of day, and temperature…but all that noted, it’s either full of pollinators, or it’s not. And I cannot predict when (or why) yet.
In other news…the first crocus peeked out and blossomed yesterday. So…new bees soon, I’d guess. Hard rain right now, pre-dawn, which we need terribly. Dry summer, dry fall, and dryish winter so far.
Metallic Green in the Wine Cups
This one might be more about the mess than the bee. You can kind of see her amidst the pollen thar in that poppy mallow. Also interesting exercise in depth of focus. Don’t get many bees in these – and the light is often weird. But it’s fun when I do.
