Bikers' Banter

Amazing what you see when skiving off work . Not sure if anybody on here knows anything about these but I was impressed .

If you prod them with a big stick, you'll find out a whole lot more

Wow seen a few made in trees, none that size, that's a big-un

That's impressive! I would have had to bring a bigger box then usual. You have to be a bit careful when they drop into you catching box. They're much heavier than you expect, especially as you're usually balanced precariously on something wobbly with outstretched arms at the time. I'd love to find a swarm that size though. Very nice!

That's a bloody big bee house honey

We've just had bumble bees nesting in the brickwork in our offices. Loads of them coming and going.

It's next to a first floor window, so not really an issue, but, someone working next to that window is alergic to bees, so we've had to get a man in.
Thankfully - he's declared that they are about to leave the nest (a lot less activity than there was), so we aren't going to take any action. I hated the idea of doing anything. We'll block the hole up when they've gone.

As your man says, they're about done for this year. I'll start getting mine ready for winter before the end of August, whatever the weather's doing. It seems daft, putting them to bed so early but I like thinking of how busy they are in the miserable days in January and February. I don't see anything different outside the hive, but inside they're working really hard so once spring comes there's lot of new young bees, ready to race out and start working as soon as the weather warms them up enough.