Should I be surprised? Bumblebees are active

September bumblebees

White-tailed bumblebees are still collecting pollen, 

Here's a white-tailed bumble on a windy day on 18th September, feeding on an evergreen Hebe shrub, [sapphire variety] in a park in Bristol:

Around mid-September I expected queen white-tailed bumblebees to be seeking a quiet underground tunnel to overwinter. In fact I photographed a queen bee doing exactly that back in August. 

But this worker bee indicates otherwise.

She's carrying a pollen basket, signifying that she's still collecting pollen for her colony. After many mild winters and speculation about global warming maybe I shouldn't be surprised at this even on mild days in October. 

I guess you're still going to find bumblebees if you look in October and November. 

But if you do see one, is it a queen about to hibernate, a lone survivor or a worker and member of a persistently active colony?

Menawhile here's a common carder been on white deadnettle in the same park

The strong wind was causing this bee considerable problems.

And here's a common carder bee feeding on a Fuchsia in a Bristol garden after 5pm. 

That's a long day's work.