Magical Mystical Beeuties

MarkB1 · Post by **MarkB1** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:09 am

Recent native bees in the afternoon, Leaf Cutters. They are dying off rapidly, numbers are way down from a month ago. Not inclined to intrude on them so much now, don’t want to affect their behaviour at the critical time of roosting at their favoured places with the predators about, Wasps and Dragonflies. Wonder if they will rebound, as nature does.

Of course, as sun shines, rain falls, grass grows.

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:50 am

Soft toy manufacturers should be watching these forums. Some of these are so cute that stuffed toys of them would sell like hotcakes. Heck, I'd buy one that looked like that first bee.

Why are they dying off?

orionmystery · Post by **orionmystery** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:59 pm

Great set Mark. Esp like #1.

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:26 pm

Very sharp details and great selective focus Mike. And yep, they are cute

All the best Mark, excellent shots and work.

Danny.

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:16 am

Beautiful and inspiring. There seems to be a 'group hug' developing in the penultimate shot.

MarkB1 · Post by **MarkB1** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 4:10 am

Yes, but it wouldn't look like it at all, would it.

I reckon they have been dying off because of the extreme wet weather we've had for months. These ones live by a creek that has been flooding regularly too. The weather has just began to normalize now and there are a few new born bees about but their hold appears tenuous. The older ones, in the pix, are gone.

Mitch640 wrote:Soft toy manufacturers should be watching these forums. Some of these are so cute that stuffed toys of them would sell like hotcakes. Heck, I'd buy one that looked like that first bee.

Why are they dying off?

marcosrudi · Post by **marcosrudi** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:19 am

GREAT set.
Amazing details.
Congratulations.

MarkB1 · Post by **MarkB1** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:58 am

It's how they roost, and often one will come onto the twig and push its way in and it's all go until everyone settles down again.

Cactusdave wrote:Beautiful and inspiring. There seems to be a 'group hug' developing in the penultimate shot.

DeVil · Post by **DeVil** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 3:21 pm

Beautiful little creatures

Nicely taken Mark

MarkB1 · Post by **MarkB1** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:06 am

Thanks Danny.

Danny wrote:Very sharp details and great selective focus Mike. And yep, they are cute

All the best Mark, excellent shots and work.

Danny.

Keifer · Post by **Keifer** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:34 am

Personally i think they are all fantastic. I really do like the 1st image though.

Best Regards

Keith

Slinkytreekreeper · Post by **Slinkytreekreeper** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:48 am

First and last ones for me, the backgrounds just work. It's always surprising how much you get in focus, my head wants to imagine seamless stacks even though I know you don't.

How come no compound elements are not visible in the eye, are they totally smooth or is this an effect of diffusion/lighting?

rumbert · Post by **rumbert** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:20 am

Thanks a lot for these wonderful pictures.

Martin G. · Post by **Martin G.** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:59 pm

beautiful captures of these gorgeous insects, I also hope population recovers!

MarkB1 · Post by **MarkB1** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:00 am

Thanks Kurt, appreciated.

orionmystery wrote:Great set Mark. Esp like #1.