Bumble Bee pictures

[Jayb]

I love watching bumble bees as they make their way around their favourite flowers

[Jayb]

[goodlife]

Ah...the flowers are lovely...and bees even more so...

And talking about bumblies...I have sign next to my back door saying "all bees and butterflies welcome'...WELL..other day one bumble bee took the sign too literally! It came inside, inspecting the kitchen very thoroughly...dog when bonkers over its buzzing and nearly caused havoc trying to hunt it down. I took cushion and tried gently coach the bee through the door back outdoors...but the bee just kept coming back!!?? Then It stated to get bit 'extra buzzy' for it didn't like my tactics forcing it out..and it still kept coming in..now I was starting be less gentle with the cushion...and still it kept coming back?! It was really being forceful with its entry. In the end I gave it more than gentle tap on its backside and once outside I quickly shut the door behind it.. I kept flying around the door for another few minutes until I was able to open the door again.
So weird...never had such a laugh before..and hubby would not never believe me with that story would he not been in to witness it 

[gazza1960]

Lovely piccies of nature at its finest.

Gazza

[cestrian]

We have got a bumble nest in a hole in the wall in the back garden. They have been really busy for the past month or so, but it has all gone very quiet over the last few days. I will get some pics posted asap.

[Silverleaf]

I think bumblebees might be nesting under the roof tiles on the back of our house. I keep seeing them hovering around like they're trying to find the way in, and I can't think what they're doing up there otherwise.

[Paulines7]

I think bumblebees might be nesting under the roof tiles on the back of our house. I keep seeing them hovering around like they're trying to find the way in, and I can't think what they're doing up there otherwise.

They could be Bombus hypnorum, the tree bumble bee.  They settled in our bird box last year and the drones fly around the entrance hole keeping watch.  They can be very aggressive so do be careful.  This was my post about them but it seems my pictures have disappeared!      http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,75949.0.html

[Silverleaf]

I think bumblebees might be nesting under the roof tiles on the back of our house. I keep seeing them hovering around like they're trying to find the way in, and I can't think what they're doing up there otherwise.

They could be Bombus hypnorum, the tree bumble bee.  They settled in our bird box last year and the drones fly around the entrance hole keeping watch.  They can be very aggressive so do be careful.  This was my post about them but it seems my pictures have disappeared!      http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,75949.0.html

I had tree bumble bees nesting in a bird box a few years ago, and there certainly are quite a few of them busy on the flowers this year. I haven't looked closely at the ones hanging around the roof to identify them, but they are pretty big with a very loud hum! ;)

[Jayb]

We have got a bumble nest in a hole in the wall in the back garden. They have been really busy for the past month or so, but it has all gone very quiet over the last few days. I will get some pics posted asap.

Would love to see your bumble bee pictures 

[Jayb]

I've not noticed any tree bumble bees here and luckily nothing trying to get into the house!
We sometimes see BB's coming out of banks or hidden somewhere in a pile of logs.

[Jayb]

A few more pictures, love bumble bees 

[Jayb]

And talking about bumblies...I have sign next to my back door saying "all bees and butterflies welcome'...WELL..other day one bumble bee took the sign too literally! It came inside, inspecting the kitchen very thoroughly...dog when bonkers over its buzzing and nearly caused havoc trying to hunt it down. I took cushion and tried gently coach the bee through the door back outdoors...but the bee just kept coming back!!?? Then It stated to get bit 'extra buzzy' for it didn't like my tactics forcing it out..and it still kept coming in..now I was starting be less gentle with the cushion...and still it kept coming back?! It was really being forceful with its entry. In the end I gave it more than gentle tap on its backside and once outside I quickly shut the door behind it.. I kept flying around the door for another few minutes until I was able to open the door again.
So weird...never had such a laugh before..and hubby would not never believe me with that story would he not been in to witness it 

I can imagine the scene between you, doggie and the bumble bee! Priceless   

[cestrian]

We have got a bumble nest in a hole in the wall in the back garden. They have been really busy for the past month or so, but it has all gone very quiet over the last few days. I will get some pics posted asap.

Would love to see your bumble bee pictures 

OK here goes Jayb. hope it was worth the wait.

They loved the lavender in our back garden

[cestrian]

Here are a few pics of the big females going in and out of the nest.

[cestrian]

Here's one little fellow that I had to rescue from the greenhouse



I'm not sure about the life cycle of the bumble bee, but they seem to have almost disappeared from the garden and the nest. Is this normal?

[Jayb]

Wonderful pictures 
Thank you for sharing, They seem to love lavender here too  I love the shot of the bee disappearing down the hole in the wall, amazing.
I believe it is only the female that overwinters, laying eggs next spring to start a new colony. I've noticed a lot less bumble bees about at the moment too, I think perhaps they have a good food source somewhere that they prefer?