Closer than I care to be to any kind of insect, let alone a bee (or wasp or hornet). Thanks to Isabel, I contacted BugGuide and they identified it http://bugguide.net/node/view/514
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We stopped at Virginia’s Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary, which we’ve passed many times on the parkway, to see what was there. It’s not an easy place to navigate and isn’t really set up for viewing anything, but we found a few openings on to the water and saw some great egrets and a few other birds along with dragonflies and other insects. It’s also on the final approach to Reagan National Airport.
Wildlife and national life, posted earlier: