May

Solitary bees nesting and taking advantage of blossom and early flowers in the meadow, ants stir from underground to rebuild their nests.

Solitary Ashy Mining Bee, Andrena cineraria, male.  He has been investigating holes in the ground in the hope of finding a virgin female to mate with.

Nesting aggregation of the Buffish Mining Bee, Andrena nigroaenea.  Each small pale pile of chalk (tumuli) is the spoil from the nest hole of a female.

Nest of the Black Meadow Ant, Lasius niger agg.  The mounds of find soil make excellent seed beds for Wild Thyme, Thymus species, and other plants.

Bird's-foot Trefoil, Lotus corniculata, flowers in the open meadow areas, a magnet for bumblebees and other invertebrates.

Orchids poke their heads above the surrounding new growth.