Queen's Speech

Had been out and about today and got home shortly before 1:00pm or high noon if we didn't have summer time. On getting out of the car, clear to hear the bees very active and I thought the warm sunny weather was driving the drones out for a quick flight before retiring for their afternoon nap.

Five minutes later returned to hear and see a mass of bees in flight above the hives. Quickly took a video (on Flickr) and then watched as the 5m high stack took off in the direction of the forest and realised it wasn't the boys flight or even a hoped for queens maiden flight but a queen packing up and moving out.

Seems that as Elisabeth II was making her Queen's Speech in UK parliament today, my queen had given out a decree and like Carlos in Spain earlier this week, abandon ship.

Followed them in to the forest - they aren't a threat and a swarm is not as such aggresive but spectacular. The came to rest in a fir tree about 15m from the house. I quickly realised I wasn't going to be able to collect them the normal way not just because of my loathoing of heights and ladders but also the nature of a for tree.

So dashed around and collected a hive box, floor, a strong cardboard lid (no proper one left) and what frames I could find. and placed them close to the tree on the ground. Dashed back indoors and started up google. Got as far as "place the hive as high as possible" when I heard the sound of Farmer Franz's tractor in the distance heading our way with hay bales and in a hurry to beat the threatening rainstorms.

Again quickly found some plastic boxes and dashed back raising the whole thing as high as I could. Ended up with a wobbly construction which after Franz left and with the rain having started was topped off with a sheet of metal to keep it dry. There were several bees flying in and out but the main buzz was still above my head. Have to wait & see.....

Have to accept that a swarm is for the most part a mistake. Seldom possible to know the exact cause but an experienced beekeeper will probably say one should know whats going on in a hive and be prepared or take action to stop it. Not sure I will ever get that far but I do know now to be better prepared and have a substitute bench prepared and that rather than make videos, take action.

Anyway very spectacular. In the Blip, the hive with the fir tree on the left and house in the background. I cCan see the hive from the kitchen window and just hope a deer doesn't get too interested or think it make a good scratching post.