Bumble bees

There are a Big 7 list of common bumble bees found in the UK. Most of them can only really be identified through the queen bee of each species:

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebee-species-guide/

The bumble bees listed below are the ones that I have been able to identify:

Buff- tailed (Bombus terrestris)

Charlotte's pool 21st March 22

Buff bums are the largest of the 'Big 7' bumblebees and are very common in England. The bombus terrestris is identified by her beige tail end. The males are smaller and do not have a buff tail.

The queen comes out of hibernation in early Spring and nests underground with a large groups of between 100 to 600 bees.

White-tailed (Bombus lucorum or bombus magnus)

Castleshaw 17th April 22

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/white-tailed-bumblebees/white-tailed-bumblebee/

Another of the Big 7, the white-tailed bumble bee comes out of hibernation later than the buff tailed bumblebee. There are two sub species to the white tailed bombus lucorum and it is possible that the one I saw was a Northern white-tailed bumblebee (bombus magnus) which are more abundant in the north and west and favour heath and moorland habitats. Castleshaw reservoir where I spotted this is on the edge of Peak District moorland.