Colletes succinctus

Large numbers of these bees were present on Thursday at The Bog in Shropshire, many I think were newly hatched males waiting for more females to emerge. When I called again a day later much of the frenzied activity had ceased and the bees were doing what they do best, mining the tunnels that form their subterranean nests. There were also large numbers feeding from the heather blossoms that were starting to open near the colony. At first I though the colony was quite small but on the second visit found it extended over a much larger area than I first thought.