I saw my first bumblebee today on the winter honeysuckle bush by my
kitchen door. Instead of the usual huge yellow and black queen with a
white tail (Bombus terrestris) it's a ginger and black kind that I've
never seen before. Apparently it's Bombus hypnorum, a species recently
arrived from Europe, and it likes to nest in bird nestboxes.
I've a spare nestbox the birds never use, maybe I'll put it up and see
if any bees move in.
--
Sue ]