12th November 2008, my garden.

Bombus Terrestris. Bombus sounds appropriate for these guys – little airborne bombs.

I remember when I first came to Tassie and saw one peripherally zoom by, and wondered what it was, like a coloured golf ball under insanely small wings. There is a myth that according to aerodynamic laws it is impossible for them to fly – it always amazes me that they CAN fly.

I tried, unsuccessfully, to photograph them for months; they just don’t sit still and would fly away at my approach. I found one in Franklin that didn’t seem able to fly – so I took lots of pictures of it (in an earlier post). Now, in my garden, I can approach any of them.

(c) Andrew Calder

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