Puzzled

I can't work out what sort of bee Eric here is, the shot was taken this afternoon in the garden.  Eric is the wrong colour for a honey bee, with that orangey chocolate colour,  and he also seems to be the wrong shape for a bumble bee (I think).  So I guess by a process of deduction that Eric might possibly be some sort of solitary bee, but I'm blowed if I can establish which one.  If you think you know then please feel free to tell me, I've wasted quite a bit of time looking at on-line bee identification guides with no joy.