Yellow Meadow Ants

Well this would be them  except that they are all sleeping just now.

I found these football sized nests when I was surveying and have now found out that they are the nests of Yellow Meadow Ants who all live in a colony. There were around 30 nests and once I saw one I could see lots more. Yellow Meadow Ants are a common species that live under the ground and live on the honeydew of root aphids. Their nests, of this size don't seem to be so common.

Every day's a school day.

Talking of which we have spent the evening at teenagers school for parents night. More interesting than it usually is and most of the teachers seemed great and really engaged with her.