The deep buzz of a queen buff-tailed bumblebee gives me goose pimples in spring, especially if they do a low fly-by when you are least expecting it. As the crab apple Evereste has sprung into life even more, there have been more and more visits by these common and endearing bumblebees.
These bumblebees have visited the garden in every month of the year, including all the way through the winter, when they forage on the winter honeysuckle. Nesting takes place in old rodent holes, usually below ground, and there can be up to three generations produced each year, with those of the third generation likely being those I've spotted during the winter.
Not being too fussy about the flowers they visit, buff-tailed bumblebees are commonly seen in gardens. They only have short tongues, so prefer open flowers like daisies and apple blossoms, as above, but can bite holes in the bases of deeper flowers to 'rob' nectar without pollinating them.
References:
Falk, S. (2015) Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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