Is it....?

Apologies for another bumblebee blip but this one could actually be quite exciting.

Well, if you're interested in bumblebees it will be.

I've been trying to get a definite ID on this bee for the past month or so. I say this one, but I am assuming there is more than one but then again I have only seen one at a time so maybe I have spent an awful lot of time following this poor bee around the garden.

The reason for all the interest?

I think it may be a Great Yellow Bumblebee. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but they do exist here so I'm not completely mad in thinking it might be. I've sent the pic off to a friend who knows about such things for confirmation.

Apparently the dead give away that it is a GYB is the broad black band between the wings. But I don't want to get too carried away just yet in case it's not the rare beastie.

I shall let you know when you can sign up for safari holidays to see this rare species around my garden.