Buzzing in the rain

After all the warmth and sunshine we had in mid-May the weather has now taken a turn for the worse and rain seems to dominate, at least in the South-East. Not very good news for pollinators as many stop foraging when it rains and seek shelter under leaves, in their nests or inside or underneath flowers. But there are still some busy bumblebees to be seen, even in the rain, and flowers can look beautiful when covered in sparkling raindrops.

Next time it rains do not stay inside; waterproof yourself and discover the wet and wonderful world in front of your door.

Purple toadflax (Linaria purpurea)

Red-tailed cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus rupestris)

Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)

Red-tailed cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus rupestris)

Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea)

Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) drinking nectar from a Phacelia flower

Bumblebees love Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)

This bumblebee is sheltering under Phacelia flowers

Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Red-tailed bumblebee and moneyspider waiting for the sun to return

Gooseberry

Rye

A borage flower (Borago officinalis)

This little Early bumblebee worker did not manage to return to the nest before the rain started

Rambler rose

Raindrops on Verbascum flower buds

Verbascum phoeniceum

Ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi)

Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Verbascum phoeniceum

Sheltering bumblebee

Pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) seedhead

Common carder bumblebee worker (Bombus pascuorum) still active in the rain

Unopened flower of Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) flower

Field poppy flower stalk

Buff/white-tailed bumblebee worker visiting a Phacelia flower

Another hiding cuckoo bumblebee

Rye

Early bumblebee visiting a Comfrey flower (Symphytum sp.)

A wet Early bumblebee worker

Little fly in a Milk thistle flower (Galactitis tomentosa)