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339.

20th March 1948. 

A fine day, with strong SW-W. wind & some very hot sunbursts.  Leaves on Betula just unfolding & showing green, but not quite "in leaf". 

At 1:50 P.M. a ♀︎ Bombus agrorum flew past me in back garden & lit on flowers of Mediterranean Heath - the first agrorum of season!


21st March 1948. 

After a fine early morning & strong wind during night, wind dropped about 10 A.M. & thick cold drizzle started in a "cold front", or as I call it a "jam", came from NW.  Rain lasted till about 2:30 P.M., but cleared just as we went out to catch 54 bus to Crumlin Cross Roads;  from there walked to Willington House & home via Butterfield Lane & Rathfarnham & thence bus.  Saw a good deal of Blackthorn in flower along roadsides between Crumlin Cross & Willington House & near Rathfarnham, also Hornbeam's Catkins out behind Willington House & Poplar in Butterfield Lane (? P. canescens). 

Just before starting out & while still raining a Bumble Bee flew past me in back garden, but species not seen.


22nd March 1948. 

Bombus agrorum ♀︎ at flowers of Flowering Currant in back garden at 2 P.M.  Flower spikes on Carex stricta by motor house wall showing, well up!


340.

22.3.48, cont.  

At 2 P.M. saw ♀︎ sawfly, Pteronidea ribesii investigating buds of White Currant in back garden, though in this particular bush only a few buds showing signs of opening & none really in leaf.  White Currant against Motor House (in NW. corner) with several flower tassels out.


23rd March 1948.

A beautiful sunny morning & evening, but dull in afternoon;  white frost (slight) at night.

During lunch saw Bombus jonellus ♀︎ at flowers of Mediterranean Heath in back garden;  also saw ♀︎ B agrorum enter tunnel in cushion of Saxifraga sternbergii leading towards patch of Dryas in W. border back garden.


24th March 1948.

A most perfect day after a white frost - very hot sun all day & practically no wind;  gentle breeze from S. in hills & from E. nearer coast.

At 2 P.M. saw Small White Butterfly in back garden chased over wall by a Peacock Butterfly, which returned & sunned itself on E. border;  also ♀︎ B. terrestris on Flowering Currant.  Odd flowers on S. side of Korokia bush out & a whole spray of flowers at top of bush.

Red Saxifrage in front garden ready to open.