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During the afternoon, with our heads On day two, we packed our lunchboxes
spinning from microscope work, we and set out for a day of bumblebee
headed into the field, with a visit to the blitzing over the Avalon Marshes with
National Trust property, Lytes Cary Manor kind permission from the Somerset
to look for our elusive Shrill carder bee Wildlife Trust, Natural England and
(Bombus sylvarum). Despite concerns RSPB. This involved the team, along
that sightings in the area had recently with volunteers, split into groups and
been very low, a search around the searching across various locations on the
flower-rich field margins proved fruitful marshes for all our humble bumbles and
finding two workers foraging. Lytes Cary recording them. Alas, the day was not on
is a key site for the species in Somerset, our side with the weather very hot and
so it proved a great opportunity to dry, plenty of water and sunscreen was
discuss the various habitats and required for us (as well as an ice cream
management techniques and to compare to finish the day off) but this also meant
these to other sites across the country that bumblebee sightings were very low.
where Shrill carder bees are also found, A disappointing end to a lovely few days
such as the Kent coast or in South but never the less the hunt for the Shrill
Wales. carder bee in Somerset continues!
Read more on our projects at
bumblebeeconservation.org/
our-projects/

Photos: Staff at Lytes Cary Manor (National
Photo: In-depth bumblebee ID
Trust) during fieldwork & catching up on
events of the past few days over lunch! 15