Talking about bees and Hastings Country Park, can Steven, or anyone else, suggest the cause of this problem reported by Bob Okines:
"Yesterday afternoon (Sat 11 April 2015) there were a large number of dead Bumble Bees scattered on the ground in Ecclesbourne Meadow. Close to the seat in the corner. There is a pussy willow tree in full flower and many of the bees were in that area. I counted over thirty corpses in an area two meters by five meters. There were also many on the steps on the way down the valley." For those who don't know it, the meadow is above Ecclesbourne Glen which leads down to the cliffs. Patrick Roper From: Adastra [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steven Falk Sent: 15 April 2015 19:55 To: 'Adastra discussion group' Subject: Re: [Adastra] Recording Habitats Well noted Richard, seepages are indeed an importan but much neglected habitat, esp' good for flies. Buglife has published quite a lot on this, see: https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns-and-our-work/habitat-projects/wessex-sp rings-and-seepages https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns-and-our-work/habitat-projects/soft-rock -cliffs Has anybody surveyed the bees and wasps of the cliffs, Given that corner of Sussex, you might be interested to note that a bee called Rophites quinquespinosa, has only ever been recorded in Britain from Guestling near Hastings. Apparently it likes Black Horehound flowers and frmale have starnge bristles on the top of the head for dislodging pollen: https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/sets/72157649098688465/ Steven Steven Falk Artist-Naturalist-Photographer www.stevenfalk.co.uk <http://www.stevenfalk.co.uk/> Wildlife identification resources at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/collections/ _____ From: Adastra [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Richard Price Sent: 15 April 2015 08:36 To: [email protected] Subject: [Adastra] Recording Habitats Is it possible to record a habitat? If so how? One of the best spots in Hastings Country Park is a soft cliff face that decends to a seepage habitat. I think that the seepage might not be noted.
