Swarm of Bees

[jennyb]

I have just noticed a swarm of bees on one of the trees in my garden. It has obviously just appeared otherwise I would have noticed earlier. Here is a photo but I could not get too close for obvious reasons.



What should I do about them? Will they just move on when they are ready? They are not too close to the house, so we can live with them there if necessary, but I would prefer them to move on.

Any suggestions?

Jenny

[Gill Catton]

look up your local bee keeper's association (probably even in the yellow pages) and they'll probably come and get the swarm..
Cool though I've never seen a swarm!

[jennyb]

Thanks, Gill. A lady is coming round in half an hour to pick them up.

Jenny

[jennyb]

What a fascinating evening. The lady has been to pick them up and gave me lots of information about them. When she told me that I could get quite close because they would not be active at this time of night, I took a few more photos. It was almost dark so had to use a flash. Thought you may be interested in seeing them.





One other interesting thing - I had noticed that we had bees in a large crack in a cherry tree at the bottom of the garden. They have been there for several years and we can often hear the buzzing echoing through the tree. It is highly likely that the swarm came from there with their queen looking for a new home and just happened to attach itself to another tree which I can see from my kitchen window. Lucky really, otherwise I would never have noticed it.

They are incredibly docile when gorged with honey and when the light is fading. In fact she cut the branch and put it in a box without one of them even flying off or buzzing. She didn't even wear gloves.

What a great evening - gave me quite a "buzz"

Jenny

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by jennyb

What a fascinating evening. The lady has been to pick them up and gave me lots of information about them. When she told me that I could get quite close because they would not be active at this time of night, I took a few more photos. It was almost dark so had to use a flash. Thought you may be interested in seeing them.


One other interesting thing - I had noticed that we had bees in a large crack in a cherry tree at the bottom of the garden. They have been there for several years and we can often hear the buzzing echoing through the tree. It is highly likely that the swarm came from there with their queen looking for a new home and just happened to attach itself to another tree which I can see from my kitchen window. Lucky really, otherwise I would never have noticed it.

They are incredibly docile when gorged with honey and when the light is fading. In fact she cut the branch and put it in a box without one of them even flying off or buzzing. She didn't even wear gloves.

What a great evening - gave me quite a "buzz"

Jenny

That sounds fascinating, real Country garden stuff. Good to see there are still some around, not seeing any up here.

[Wild-Woman]

Incredible shots Jenny. Did the beekeeper say how many bees there may be there?

[Gill Catton]

Fascinating.... My grandpa used to keep the bees and the smells in his bee shed were the best in the world I used to love being in there and watching him separate the wax and stuff - something I might have a go at myself one day

[cat72uk]

Wow

[The Black Rabbit]

What INCREDIBLE photographs Jenny!
Many thanks for telling is all about it.

I've been lucky? enough to be caught up in TWO bee swarms during my ramblings out and about.
Both in May (when I was led to believe a lot of swarms happen - when the colony breaks in two and as you say, the old queen and half the colony set off for pastures new (quite literally) although I s'pose the timing ultimately depends on many factors - and obviously the weather).

The last time it happened was this May, walking up the Thames at near Reading, with my girlfriend, and we were caught in a very large swarm, which crossed the river - engulfing a passing narrowboat at the time!

Got one shot off (whilst moving pretty quickly backwards -so please excuse the very poor quality of the shot).



Anyhoo - a really interesting thread Jenny - and some wonderful photo's.
Thanks very much again.
TBR

[djackso]

Wonderful story and great advice too.