Austin early bees

Spring in central Texas is a month earlier than where I grew up and I am always a little dazzled by it. Indian paintbrush and bluebonnets were already at their peak and the wildflower center’s demo meadows were loud with pollinators.

I spent most of the morning with the 80mm close to a single patch of phacelia and a patch of bluebonnets. The bees were the story. At least three species of native bees I couldn’t identify, a ridiculous number of Honey Bees, a giant Carpenter Bee that I tried and failed to get sharp in flight, and a few Leafcutter Bees doing their thing. One Digger Bee made a burrow in the sandy path that I sat near for ten minutes.

Butterflies incidentally: Gulf Fritillary, Pipevine Swallowtail on spiderwort, a small Reakirt’s Blue that was easier to ID than I expected, and two American Ladies. Skippers were everywhere and I didn’t try to split.

One sphinx moth on a morning glory that I spent five minutes on and got one clean frame. Sphinx moths in the morning feel like a gift.

The center was quiet before it opened to the public at 10:00 AM. I was out before the tour groups came through. Ate a breakfast taco in the parking lot and drove home thinking about the year.