Woolly Hat Weather For Tree Bees

Another wild day of blustery winds tearing at the trees and gardens. It was quite a surprise, then, to see a few bees about, mostly heading for wall plants that were less wind-affected.

This chap in the woolly orange hat is a 'new' bee to Britain, first seen in 2001. Records of sightings are being kept to keep an eye on their progress. Easy to spot, they have a white furry tail end and this wonderful orange 'hat'.

The Tree Bumblebee (bombus hypnorum) is a welcome addition to Britain's dwindling bee populations; see more at here. If you spot any you can register your sightings via this site.