First pollinator

[Plot70]

My first pollinating insect of the year.
It is a common drone fly and it has got plenty of pollen on it.

[Bren In Pots]

A great close up photo Plot.

[Plot70]

I was very lucky with the light.
There is more about it here.
https://www.ispotnature.org/communit...7661/drone-fly

Has anyone else seen there first pollinators yet?

[ameno]

I don't think I've seen any yet, although I haven't exactly been paying attention.
I hope there'll be some about soon, though, as my apricot tree is just a few days away from the first flowers opening, and my other apricot and my peach are not far behind.

[Nicos]

I spotted a red tailed bumble bee on the 15th Feb.

I’ve created this thread for peeps to share about their firsts of 2023….so they are easy to find to compare with further years’
You are welcome to add yours to that too if you like?

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...t-of……2023


Your photo is amazingly clear…..are you using a traditional camera or your phone?

[Nicos]

Lovely site link there Plot - thanks for sharing

[Snoop Puss]

Honeybees about here now the almonds are in blossom. Hope they manage to fill up sharpish before the cold does for the flowers.

Edited to add: great photo, Plot70.

[DannyK]

Here in S Croydon bumblebees have been out since early January when the honeysuckle started flowering, even in near zero temperatures and rain. Some are very big. They are also on hellebores and crocuses.
What appear to be honey bees have been out on warmer days.
A still from a vidoe.

[Plot70]

I figured that a thread on first pollinators might be in place next to the other thread that is all first flowers.
That last post looks like a white/buff tailed bumble bee queen. I had a nest under the tool shed a couple of years ago.
A few years ago we had a few warm days while the snowdrops were out and they were covered in honey bees.
I did see a large insect most likely a queen bee from a distance over the plot but did not get close enough to see exactly what it was.