Still waiting to hear from the bumblebee boffins whether this critter is what I think it is or not - found dozing happily on a pillow in the bedroom at Dempsey Towers by Mrs D.
The bumblebee that is, not me.
I think it may be Bombus Hypnorum, a bumblebee first recorded in the UK as recently as 2000, and generally found in the south east, but hey, why can't a bee go north?
It has been found as far up as Northumberland in recent years.
Superbly docile beast, tufty orange hair and big as a queen Red Tailed.
Such a new arrival it doesn't have an English name yet (apart from Tree Bee, which is a bit unimaginative to say the least), so I suggest calling it "Mrs D's Pillow Bee".
Then again, it may prove to be something completely regular, which is quite likely given my parlous lack of knowledge when it comes to Bombus.
Saved from a twitch to Northhants today by "The Greenshank Redemption" id revelations of yesterday afternoon, (oh come on, we all get it wrong sometimes), so was able to crank up the moth trap till the early hours.
Plenty of Poplar Hawks, Brimstones and Heart and Darts, Buff Arches etc, with a fine Burnished Brass, and the dark form of Peppered Moth, which I haven't trapped before.
Thanks to Philip Collins for sending me these shots of Dark Green Frits feeding on the thistles above the beach at Cabin Hill this week - always a reliable spot for them.
Gorgeous butterflies.
Otherwise all quiet, may try a seawatch tomorrow if the weather breaks.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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John do you think your bee could be a stowaway from your recent trip to France?
Nope, the bee was in the bedroom the day BEFORE we left for wine land. I've just held off blogging it as I was hoping for "bee boffins" to confirm the id.