{"id":15721,"date":"2014-08-28T03:30:47","date_gmt":"2014-08-28T09:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=15721"},"modified":"2026-03-17T07:05:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T12:05:02","slug":"beautiful-pollinators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/08\/28\/beautiful-pollinators\/","title":{"rendered":"Beautiful Pollinators"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CommonWild Sunflower and pollinators – Nikon D810, f13, 1\/500, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Yesterday the light wasn’t great in the morning but I did get out to take some images an Antelope Island<\/span><\/a> and there were plenty of pollinators out and about. Just this one Common Sunflower blossom 5 different insects which included two Digger Bees, one tiny fly, a beetle and a type of slender wasp.<\/p>\n

\"NevadaNevada Bumble Bee pollinating a Rocky Mountain Bee Plant – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then there were a few skipper butterflies that didn’t get close enough to get decent images of but the bumble bees were.<\/p>\n

\"NevadaNevada Bumble Bee in flight\u00a0– Nikon D810, f6.3, 1\/1000, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And they were actively going from one bee plant to another. This one’s pollen baskets were so heavy its legs dangled down.<\/p>\n

\"RufousRufous Hummingbird flying\u00a0– Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There were also a few hummingbirds zipping from flower to flower with their wings making a buzzing sound that compliments their soft chirps.<\/p>\n

\"Perched<\/p>\n

Perched Rufous Hummingbird\u00a0– Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The bees, butterflies, beetles and hummingbirds will soon be gone but they have pollinated the plants which will soon set seed and the cycle will begin all over again next spring.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Rufous Hummingbird photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my flower, shrub and tree photos. Click here<\/span><\/a> to see my insect and spider galleries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday the light wasn’t great in the morning but I did get out to take some images an Antelope Island and there were plenty of pollinators out and about.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":171914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[511,27,1022,17240,2634,2629,26,5347],"tags":[17242,2637,5941,9938,12222,2649,12026,4052,4122,6028,6043,2652,4035,2636,9937,5064,2650,11721,2639,4444,2631,2630,4032,5063],"class_list":["post-15721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-digger-bees","category-nevada-bumble-bees","category-rufous-hummingbirds","category-utah","category-wildflowers","tag-anthophora-urbana","tag-bombus-nevadensis","tag-bumblebee","tag-bumblebees","tag-cleomella-serrulata","tag-common-sunflower","tag-digger-bee","tag-flight","tag-flying","tag-helianthus-annuus","tag-hummingbird","tag-hummingbirds-2","tag-nature-photography","tag-nevada-bumble-bee","tag-nevada-bumblebee","tag-pink-wildflowers","tag-pollination","tag-pollinator","tag-pollinators","tag-rocky-mountain-bee-plant","tag-rufous-hummingbird","tag-selasphorus-rufus","tag-wildlife-photography","tag-yellow-wildflowers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/sunflower-bees-mia-mcpherson-0143.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-45z","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15666,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/08\/18\/monday-medley-of-bees-moths-and-hummingbirds\/","url_meta":{"origin":15721,"position":0},"title":"Monday Medley of Bees, Moths and Hummingbirds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I've compiled a medley of images this morning of bees, moths and hummingbirds that I have photographed this past week to share this morning.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rufous Hummingbird scratching, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rufous-hummingbird-scratching-mia-mcpherson-6009.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rufous-hummingbird-scratching-mia-mcpherson-6009.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rufous-hummingbird-scratching-mia-mcpherson-6009.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":72945,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/08\/21\/common-sunflower-great-basin-bumble-bee-and-long-horned-bee-at-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":15721,"position":1},"title":"Common Sunflower, Great Basin Bumble Bee And Long-horned Bee At Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"When I photographed this Common Sunflower I noticed the Great Basin Bumble Bee right away then I saw the other bee and what appears to be two midges on the upper left quadrant of the flower petals.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Common Sunflower, Great Basin Bumble Bee and Long-horned Bee, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/great-basin-bumble-bee-long-horned-bee-sunflower-mia-mcpherson-5563.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/great-basin-bumble-bee-long-horned-bee-sunflower-mia-mcpherson-5563.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/great-basin-bumble-bee-long-horned-bee-sunflower-mia-mcpherson-5563.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/great-basin-bumble-bee-long-horned-bee-sunflower-mia-mcpherson-5563.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9316,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/08\/29\/calliope-hummingbirds\/","url_meta":{"origin":15721,"position":2},"title":"Calliope Hummingbirds","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 29, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I believe these are Calliope Hummingbirds but if I am wrong please do not hesitate to correct me, I don't get upset about things like that.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Calliope Hummingbird feeding on Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/calliope-hummingbird-mia-mcpherson-1972.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/calliope-hummingbird-mia-mcpherson-1972.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/calliope-hummingbird-mia-mcpherson-1972.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/calliope-hummingbird-mia-mcpherson-1972.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":102522,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/05\/20\/world-bee-day-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":15721,"position":3},"title":"World Bee Day 2022","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"May 20th is World Bee Day and I am sharing a photo of two native bees this morning. The Great Basin Bumble Bee and the Long-horned Bee. Native bees are important pollinators.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great Basin Bumble Bee and Long-horned Bee on a Common Sunflower, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/great-basin-bumble-bee-long-horned-bee-sunflower-mia-mcpherson-5561.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/great-basin-bumble-bee-long-horned-bee-sunflower-mia-mcpherson-5561.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/great-basin-bumble-bee-long-horned-bee-sunflower-mia-mcpherson-5561.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/great-basin-bumble-bee-long-horned-bee-sunflower-mia-mcpherson-5561.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15654,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/08\/16\/rufous-hummingbird-hovering-by-rocky-mountain-bee-plant\/","url_meta":{"origin":15721,"position":4},"title":"Rufous Hummingbird hovering by Rocky Mountain Bee Plant","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This Rufous Hummingbird had a favorite perch that looked out over its favorite patch of Rocky Mountain Bee Plant.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female Rufous Hummingbird, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rufous-hummingbird-female-mia-mcpherson-5140.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rufous-hummingbird-female-mia-mcpherson-5140.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rufous-hummingbird-female-mia-mcpherson-5140.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rufous-hummingbird-female-mia-mcpherson-5140.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":94426,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/09\/04\/rufous-hummingbird-for-national-hummingbird-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":15721,"position":5},"title":"Rufous Hummingbird For National Hummingbird Day","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is National Hummingbird Day and I am celebrating by sharing some Rufous Hummingbird photos I took earlier this week on Antelope Island.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rufous Hummingbird, bee plant and ants, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, 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