Buff Bumble

It was a dull and very windy morning so I was surprised and pleased to see this buff-tailed bumblebee nectaring on a Mahonia, which is flowering on the bank of our neighbour's lake. The bush was swaying wildly but I'm pleased with the way my Mk II 100-400 has caught the insect. I'm so pleased to have this lens back in full working condition. The main advantage it has over the Mark I is that it focusses much more closely, meaning that I can use it for bugs.

These bumble bees are the largest we have in the UK and the earliest to appear.