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250. 6th Dec. 1951. A sunny forenoon, but dull in afternoon. Walked to Rathfarnham Bridge, down the Dodder & home by Orwell Rd. Saw a wasp at ivy by the stream from Rathfarnham Castle estate at The Water Gate. 7th - 8th - 9th Dec. Very heavy rain on night of 7th-8th & until noon on 8th; then sunny afternoon; followed by renewed gale & rain on night of 8th-9th, with very heavy & prolonged sleet shower during 9th, then fine in evening & very cold. 10th Dec. 1951. A bright day with blue sky & hot sun till 3 P.M. after a hard black frost at night. At 2 o'clock afternoon walked to Rathfarnham Bridge down the Dodder to Dartry & home. Went up the hill below the Water Gate & saw a ☿ wasp at the ivy of the hedge on S. side of the convalescent home, but none by the stream which was not in sun: 2.30 P.M. 12th Dec. 51. In afternoon walked from 54 bus to Wellington Ho., coll. eggs at Hillcrest (as usual on Wed.) & back to Rathfarsham via. Templeogue Br. & Butterfield Lane. Bus home. A mild day with cloud & sun & southerly breeze (E. on coast!) after the coldest day of winter so far & hard frost on night of 10th & 11th, which did not thaw in shade till evening of 11th. at 3.40 P.M. saw 2 Vespa vulgaris at Ivy Blossom in Butterfield Lane on hedge along golf links. Very active though sun gone behind clouds. 251.) 14th & 16th Dec. 1951. Both days very mild & 16th entirely sunny with first SW. & then E. breeze. On both days saw scores of Honey Bees swarming about ivy blossom & gathering great loads of pollen from its flowers & on 16th saw a single ☿ Vespa vulgaris with the Bees at ivy on the hill from the Water Gate by the Dodder. On the 16th walked in forenoon from Rathfarnham bus, via The Narrow Walls & Landscape, home by Dodder Park, &c. Everywhere there was ivy saw Honey Bees attending it & about The Narrow Walls the hum they made was like what would hear during a honey-flow in June. There appears to be more blossom on the ivy at the moment than I remember seeing before at this season, although some plants have also well-formed berries. On 15th, my 68th birthday, spent forenoon in town & talking to Miss M.P.H. Kertland (of Belfast) about I.N.J. & B.N.F.C. Survey of Cross Glen, near Belfast. 18th December '51. A very mild day with much hot sun & two light showers. In afternoon walked via Rathfarnham Bridge to the Water Gate on the Dodder but saw no wasps & not a trace of a Honey Bee or the hill where seen on 16th. Then met Brunker & walked down to Dartry Dye Works & so home. On ivy between Dye Works & bend in river above same saw one ☿ wasp in hedge.