Nigel Jones' photostream  

This is always a most welcome sight at the beginning of each new season. Andrena clarkella is just about always the first mining-bee to emerge each spring. This is the earliest I have ever seen a female in Shropshire - 6 March. A whole week earlier than 2011, which was a very early season! Here, a female is warming up in the sunshine - one of just a few that had emerged today amongst the many males that were flying about a small aggregation of nests.

Excavating a new nest, with a male in the background.

Excavating a new nest

Warming up in the sunshine. Showing it's glossy black abdomen.

This is always a most welcome sight at the beginning of each new season. Andrena clarkella is just about always the first mining-bee to emerge each spring. This is the earliest I have ever seen a female in Shropshire - 6 March. A whole week earlier than 2011, which was a very early season! Here, a female is warming up in the sunshine - one of just a few that had emerged today amongst the many males that were flying about a small aggregation of nests.