Mason bee drinking water from woodchips

After a fresh rain I found many of my bees, a female Osmia Taurus just walking around on the woodchips I have all around. Upon a closer look they are lapping up the moisture that has formed on the mulch. Ground up trees are used to condition my soil, and glad my bees also have a use for it. I have tried putting water out for the bees but seems they only want to drink it from whats out in nature. Maybe we just get so much rain here in Georgia they have no need for me to provide them water. The solitary bees can just wait until the next rain storm to drink the water that is left over on the surface. The woodchips make a great place for the bees to land and lap it all up.

When I got up close with my GH3 camera I could see alot more detail. When I first saw the bees it just looked like they were wandering around and stopping every so often. But now it make sense they are having a drink of water.

The little bee walks around looking for more wet mulch to drink from. I follow it with my camera and it does not seem to mind. The bee is on a mission and will not be bothered by me around them. I try not to make any sudden moves to disturb the water seeking bee.

Climbing up some wood chips much bigger than the bee it makes it look tiny. I think they are a little smaller than a honey bee but not by much. The males are about a third of the size of the female Mason bees.

She found a cut stem and licked up some more water that was left over from a recent rainstorm. The bee points its antennae towards the source of the water as it drinks.

Taking off I do my best to follow it but they are quite fast and zippy. I got a capture of them taking off, its furry body can be seen but its wings are already in motion.

It landed on another piece of bark, and drinking from it with its long tongue. Its furry body can be seen with the sunlight shining off as the storm leaves the area.

Once she has had enough she takes off again in search for another drink of water. A few hours and all of it will dry up, so the bees stay busy drinking it when they can before the rest evaporates.

It walks and stops every so often to check out an area, it seems to use its antennae while looking for water. Just an observation but maybe they use them to sense liquid. I am always learning more about these bees just by observing them, glad they are very friendly and never seem to mind my nosiness around them.