It was only the 12 February 2019 and I saw my first solitary bee taking nectar from the Viburnum tinus in the garden.
Almost immediately I spotted another one, slightly larger, but not I thought the same species.
The first bee is very much like a male to me and I was keen to get a photograph of the wing venation to identify it to genera level.
I thought I had it and saw the second bee on the ground.
The second bee looked interested in prospecting the area. Looking out for females, I wondered? This is under our plum tree and there is already a colony of Andrena cineraria in residence that will put in an appearance later in the year but I could see no sign of any holes and I did not get a wing shot.
Back inside I found that the wing venation photograph was not as good as I had hoped but I thought I could perhaps push through the identification key in Steven Falk’s Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland. When I turned up with the proposed ID as a bumblebee I realised I had gone adrift somewhere.
Never mind, perhaps another day.
Then the idea came to me that I could perhaps identify the huge white tailed queen that is with me throughout the winter on sunny days.
But no – this too is past my ken.
On the 12th. I had also seen for the first time the orange tailed queen. I am fairly certain this is Bombus pratorum, the early bumble bee.
Today, 15th. February I saw my first carder queen. I am not even trying to go closer than that. I am just happy to see so many bees in the garden in the sunshine.
Bees in a French Garden 
Beautiful photos. The carder queen is so cuddly looking. I hope someone comes along who can help you identify them all! Is there a guide to the bees of France?
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There is no similar guide to the bees of France. I have realised now that it is not sufficient to look at a photograph to identify most bees. Bumble bees are really difficult and would have to be immobilised. I am just content to recognise the most obvious genera and enjoy their visits. Amelia
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They were visiting here in the Vaucluse this week also. There are always a few bumblebees during the winter on a nice day, as we have a few things blooming all year. I hope more arrive soon.
bonnie in provence
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Are they all white-tailed bumblebee queens you see in the winter? Amelia
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Not sure, I think both. Sometimes they are just whizzing by and I don’t really look carefully. I’ll have to pay more attention, I’m just glad to see them along with the black ones.
bonnie
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Warmer climes and the promise of Printemps…!
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It is not just a promise. Everything is like spring here with highs of 20 degrees. So what will happen in March/April? Amelia
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Interesting photos! Your first bee looks a little like Andrena flavipes but I cant see all the details on the photo . I think you have flavipes in your grden? The second one looks like Andrena scotica but a few more photos might help. I agree with B.pratorum.
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I did think it would be likely to be a flavipes but the bees can be so varied here that I did not try to go further than that 🙂 Amelia
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