I'm delighted to report that I just spotted a very lovely leaf cutter bee (Megachile centuncularis) making very good use of the urban bee nester that we put out earlier in the year in our courtyard garden.
These bees cut neat semicircles from leaves with their large jaws and use them to make sausage shaped nest cells - in this case using the specially designed bamboo tubes for support. This is the female who has a bright orange pollen brush under her abdomen.
Solitary bees, like this leaf cutter, are fantastic! They do a great job of pollinating our plants, don't swarm and aren't aggressive so they are the ideal garden guests. Encourage them to your garden by putting up one of our insect homes and planting some lovely nectar rich flowers. We'd be happy to make some suggestions if you pop into the visitor centre, or you can create your personal plan to give nature a home in your garden on our website.
Elsewhere on the trail, visitors Chris & Juliet spotted and managed to photograph this beautiful weasel, carrying one of its kits across the trail.
Other sightings from around the trail include marsh harrier, hobby, green sandpiper and lots of willow warblers - presumably the latter are considering the long journey south to Africa. At least 3 brown hairstreak butterflies reported today. These butterflies, being pretty rare and rather elusive are a good challenge for wildlife watchers...they are often seen congregating around the large ash tree on the corner of the trail as you take the turn off to Nettley's hide & Jupp's View, but also look along the blackthorn hedgerows as that will be where the female will be egg-laying.
Male brown hairstreak - photo by Gareth Hughes
Female brown hairstreak - photo from Anna.