5th May, 2026

A Rare Bee Find On Fenit’s Tombolo

by Grace Clinton

In 2024, I carried out a search for the rare solitary mining bee, The Northern Colletes (Colletes Floralis) in suitable coastal habitats in Fenit, Co. Kerry.

A nesting aggregation was discovered on Fenit’s Tombolo, a natural sand and shingle bar linking the mainland to Fenit Island; this feature has developed into a dynamic beach and dune system, providing an important habitat for specialised wildlife, including solitary bees.

It was an exciting and encouraging find, given its rarity and its listing as vulnerable in the Irish Regional Red List of Bees and in the European Red List of Bees.

The active nest was visible from the distinctive nest entrances, tiny holes almost flush with the surrounding sand, accompanied by a low level humming sound.

Despite being solitary, they are communal nesters, with the females constructing their individual burrows in the same patch of sand in close proximity to one another. I observed each female landing to enter their burrow or coming out in search of pollen. It is a solitary but social set up that makes the nesting site so interesting to watch.

The bees show a preference for a south facing sand bank with short cropped vegetation and the same nesting site remained active in 2025, indicating a relatively stable population.

Just a short distance from the nest lies an area of wild coastal grassland which provides a reliable food source throughout their flight period. I have observed the bees visiting a variety of native flowers including species like wild angelica, wild carrot, and cat’s ear, suggesting a degree of flexibility in their foraging behaviour.

As part of ongoing monitoring I manage the site by limiting vegetation to maintain the bare soil conditions on which the bees depend, while also keeping an eye on potential risks such as coastal erosion, storm surges and increased footfall which may lead to accidental trampling of the nesting area.

Over the last few years the sand bank has remained stable and firm enough to hold its structure without collapsing.

This season (2026) I plan to continue monitoring the site with a hope to maintain and enhance the population on the tombolo. The bees activity levels tend to increase on sunny days providing a good opportunity to observe their behaviour. Monitoring will also consider the availability and abundance of nearby flowering plants, as solitary bees generally forage within a limited range of their nest area.

I look forward to their emergence, males appearing first, with a sense of excitement, along with some concern for the future of this sand dune dweller and the fragile dune habitat upon which it relies.