Wild Bee's Nest in Grand Junction, Colorado

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A short video of what I suspect is a leaf-cutter bee's nest.

Found in Grand Junction, Colorado.

June, 2013.

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No Thoroughfare Trail and Bighorn Sheep

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Today we went for a walk on the No Thoroughfare Trail in the Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, Colorado. Signs of Spring were everywhere. The special treat was spotting a group of six bighorn sheep passing by the first pond on the trail.

Closeup using my cell phone held up to a pair of binoculars.

Click on the pic above to see the whole group.

Looking out towards the trail...

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There were several different types of bright flowers already blooming along the trail.

A few species of wild bees could be seen droning around.

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Digging wasp alongside the trail.

One of several lizards that crossed our path.

A caterpillar tent in the brush.

A beetle (Paracotalpa sp.) on another caterpillar nest.

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Wingate Park Week

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This week I'll be featuring pictures of insects that have been taken at Wingate Park on South Camp Road in Grand Junction. There are several flowering bushes near the picnic tables where pollinators can be found: wasps, a wide variety of bees, syrphid flies and bee flies, as well as representatives from other orders.

Today I'll just post a couple of pictures of the specific area where this week's upcoming insect photos were taken. Wingate park is a great place to take the kids for an afternoon picnic. It is not at all uncommon to see quail, rabbits, relatively large lizards, grasshoppers, several small birds, and pollinators all over the flowering bushes and shrubs, not to mention the great view of the Colorado National Monument.

The Colorado National Monument in the background.

The flowering shrubs in the picture above provide opportunities

to view all kinds of pollinating insects. Lizards are often seen on 

the cement and the rocks below. Quail are usually visible nearby.

A closer look at the flowers in these bushes.

If you look carefully, you may see some insects buzzing around.
Click twice on the picture above to find some bees.
I see at least four.

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