This bee-like insect was observed digging holes in the soil. There were 3 holes in its vicinity and it was busy burrowing into the 3rd hole. In the 3rd picture you can see it with the upper half of its body in the hole.

It was about an inch long and a half inch wide.

Habitat: It was found on a small ridge in a wooded area a few yards above a pond.

Apparently, there is a sub-species of carpenter bee called Proxylocopa which does make its nests in the ground, but that type doesn't appear in North America, so I'm not sure of the ID.