Tree bumblebee ( Bombus hypnorum )

At last it seems to be spring!  For the last couple of days I have been comfortable out and about in a short sleeved shirt.  The Berberis is in flower and the bees and other pollinators are loving them.  They were so engrossed in gathering nectar that I managed to get this shot of the Tree Bumblebee.

Tree Bumblebees are widespread covering most of the country as far north as Glasgow and Edinburgh.  This is surprising as they only arrived in the country in 2001.  As the name suggests they nest in cavities in trees, however, they will use other sites including bird nesting boxes.