for a Glimpse of Spring

A calm and sunny day was put to good use both by myself and honeybee (to be seen centre of picture)

Naturally this sent me rushing of to consult my copy of The Pollen Loads of the Honey Bee by Dorothy Hodges, 1952.

So I can now say with certainty that the tiny orange blob on her rear leg is indeed the pollen of the Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis.  This is a good sign because bees need pollen to feed to young brood and is therefore an indication that the queens in the hives have started to lay.

Whether she was collecting nectar as well is hard to say - but I would be surprised if she wasn't!