Scouting parties

Interesting turn of events for one of my bait hives, having just visited a possible swarm (sadly in a cavity so not able to retrieve) I placed the box on the patio table with the intention of putting it away later.

Next day when helping out in the bee tent get a text to say bees are going in and out of the bait box.

Later when I get home Jonathan insisted we suit up and go for a look. Nothing in there but hopefully they are happy with the accommodation.

Monday saw even more bees probably 50+ at times all around the hive, also doing what look like orientation flights.

Quick update bees in and out every day since Sunday could be only a matter of time I'll keep you informed.

Bait Hive #5

Having posted a request for anyone interested in beekeeping on my works intranet site I had another person contact me recently. Emma said that she already had bees, living in an air vent just below her roof, but was also keen to find out more about bees and what they might do. After a brief discussion she said she was more than willing to site a bait box in here garden in the hope of catching any swarms that might emanate from her colony. So this morning I popped around to deliver my modified, fifteen year old, compost bin/come bee hive. It was initially a decorative compost bin but now has an inner lid of twelve 17" waxed bars that will hopefully encourage any homeless bees to stop a while. It is located on a slightly raised area directly beneath a large apple tree at the bottom of her quiet garden, so along with the lemon grass oil, it should prove irresistible - let's hope so!

Compact and bijou residence available for free!
Please apply within.

Emma said she had some footage of the initial swarm arriving and will post it to me to add later. Apparently she thought it was a motorbike revving-up outside as it was so loud.  

I'm just off to see my neighbour, who also has a small orchard in her garden, to talk about sighting a similar bait box there. If we don't manage to catch any swarms this year at least it won't be for lack of trying.

Boyd

Mis-bee hiving?

So after successfully retrieving the bumble bees on Saturday evening, and installing them and their new bumble home in a prime spot in the garden, I watched and waited on Sunday - nothing! and watched and waited on Monday - nothing! On Monday evening I tentatively tapped the hive to see if there was any audible sign of them being there - nothing. I raised the lid and saw their scruffy ball of a nest, but still no bees. In desperation I gently poked the nest with a stick hoping for some sound or movement -again nothing. I therefore assumed that they must have departed at some point during the previous two days and were now hanging around, homeless, back to their original woodshed site.

From work this morning I called Ali B to check if there were any bees lurking in the woodshed; she said "Yes, but only a couple!". They could of course have been some that were originally left behind but she said she would call around and take the nest box back to her place to try and re-catch the wanderers. As I got back early, and whilst I waited for her to arrive, I thought I might as well get the nest box ready so that she doesn't need to hang about. Imagine my surprise, as I double-double checked that there were no bees inside, to find the little nest ball covered with about twenty bees. In my best Victor Meldrew impression "I couldn't believe it!" Ali and myself then stalled the re-move and discussed what must have been going on. We decided that they were inside all the time probably repairing any damage that inevitably occurred during the move and so not venturing outside a great deal. I also thought it could be a play dead strategy to ward off potential attackers - But what do I know? Anyway the upshot is that they are alive and well, and doing what bees generally do - flying in and out and getting on with bee based activities! 

This little window of warm weather has also brought the main hive to life. I thought they might be ready to swarm as there were so many bees in the air. But I think they were just making the most of some good air time to grab some groceries! And who can blame them?

Toddlepip!   

Hive been busy......

Part 1
After many evenings cossetted in the garage I've finally finished my second TBH. 

The all singing, all dancing, superdooper, mega TBH hive!

I have strayed slightly from the Chandler original design and added several features that were discussed during a beek meeting I went to in Oxford a month or so ago. Having read widely about these 'additions' I feel they will make a good design better.The Chandler original was always promoted as a work-in-progress, with experimentation and individual interpretation actively encouraged, rather than a set-in-stone finished article. My additions are as follows, which as the season progresses I will report on*:  

• the body of the hive is substantially thicker than my first effort. 50mm as opposed to 25mm hopefully helping to regulate the internal temperature in both summer and winter
• I have done away with the mesh floor and gone for fixed bottom board. This should reduce fluctuations in the internal atmosphere.
• it has a 'hanging-out space' at the bottom of the hive that allows bees to gather under the comb rather than hanging on the mesh outside. The combs hopefully won't be incorporate  into the 10mm bamboo canes - we'll see!
• there is only one entrance hole - on the side at one end. I am still unsure whether to close this hole and replace it with a single hole in the end.
• thanks to a generous donation of some thin perspex it sports an observation window. Not a new innovation but should make internal observations easier for myself and any visitors.

Hopefully you can see the extra wall thickness, the 'hanging-out space',
the single hole entrance and the observation window

Part 2
As Ali B mentioned she has found a bumble bee nest in her wood shed. Although very keen to keep them she felt that the combination of two small children, eager to use the wood shed as a den, co-existing harmoniously with what we think is a small colony of Common Carder bumble bees was not a good idea.  So using my new table saw - "Did I mention I've got a new table saw?" - I quickly fashioned a new pied-à-terre for the little family and whisked them away my urban garden. My newest bees are quite small, and being brown/beige in colour, can easily be mistaken for a honey bee. The give away is the rather scruffy little nest made of moss, grass etc. that probably only contains about a hundred bees - they do make honey but only in very small quantities and not in capped cells but in wax buckets that could easily have been spilt when moving them - "Will I need to fashion a mini mop!" As it's a Bank Holiday tomorrow I will no doubt, weather permitting, be sat watching them for a few hours. Will report back soon.

Common Carber Bee Bombus pascuorum

It will be interesting to note if they return to the woodshed as it is only about a mile and a half away from where they  are this evening. If they do decide to go back I will re-relocate the nest box, hopefully collecting them all again and then move it further field. "Well at least it gets me out of the house!"

* assuming I can get some more bees to populate it  

DaDBeeP Meeting 2 May 2012

What a brilliant turnout! Thanks very much to everyone that made it such an interesting evening. I hope that the informal approach didn't alienate any new comers as the last thing we want, I feel, is anything too organised or dogmatic. Hopefully as we get to know each other better we can maybe introduce guest speakers or meet at other venues for specific events or workshops. If you have something to share or suggestions for topics/venues please shout out. 

As suggested I have added a "Bees Wanted" page. Hopefully this will become a useful resource for DaDBeep folk wanting to acquire bees via swarms or splits (artificial swarms). It would be useful if people could indicate type/size of hive, location, experience etc. in order that you can get the best positive result and assistance. If you acquire bees make sure to remove your name to give others a chance. Until I've worked out how to keep things "a bit more private" please don't broadcast your e-mail address or mobile numbers. I'm sure there must be a secure way to do this using a Private Message but I haven't found it yet; I will advise as soon as it's resolved.

Tim pointed out that I should, as I did at the meeting in Elvaston, have got people to write their e-mail addresses down so that I could add them to the DaDBeeP mailing list. If you want to be added to the list please mail me at: boyd_brooks(at)hotmail(dot)com  Using your e-mail address I can also give you posting rights to the blog - just let me know (it's not mandatory!). 

The confirmed date for the next meeting (to avoid half term) is:

Wednesday 13 June
The Shakespeare Inn,
Shardlow
DE72 2GP
19:00 - 21:00

Thanks again.
Regards
Boyd

Bumble bee nest in the woodstore

Hi everyone
Just thought I'd post some pictures of a small bumble bee nest we have in our woodstore in the garden.  Boyd thinks Common Carder Bees.  We inadvertently disturbed the nest when getting some wood & they appear to have been working hard fixing any damage since!
Sorry cant join you all tonight, hope to see everyone next time.
Alison

Ready to go

All the hives in place may need a shuffle and levelling a little

That's it, me and the boys are ready to go, the hives where installed yesterday. Been down to check tonight and would you believe it no bee's, I'm going to have to resort to a big pointy arrow. Since I had no bee's to look at spent early evening waxing more top bars ready to go in.

DIY wax melter great for coating topbars, wife not convinced its a good use of the hot plate.

Looking forward to seeing folks in the Shakespeare pub tomorrow.

Cheers Dave