The ashy mining bee

I'm determined not to miss out on the grizzled skipper this year. So with the weather on the change yesterday evenings venue was the edgeland post industrial habitat of the Blaenserchan valley the scene of last years range busting record.

Butterflies were disappointingly thin on the ground with only singles of dingy skipper and common blue to chase across the spoil tips. An ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria) provided a subject slightly easier to photograph. This ground nesting bee with its black and grey appearance was noted searching for nesting opportunities within the sparsely vegetated spoil.

Elsewhere a dead common shrew exposed its red-tipped teeth and a number of moonwort were noted pathside. Bird activity was expected high, with tree pipit, yellowhammer, garden warbler, cuckoo and redpoll were all vocal. Grizzled skipper? maybe tomorrow.