First swarm of 2012

The first swarm call of 2012, early this morning a call from a gentleman called Dennis from Newton, a small North Cambridgeshire village.  The swarm had been in residence for two days and was tightly wrapped around the trunk of a beech.  They don't show you this kind of swarm collection in the books.

I placed a hive full of drawn comb quite close to the swarm. Handfuls of bees were carefully removed from the cluster and placed in the hive. Once two thirds of the swarm had been put in the hive the bees on the landing stage began to fan.  After about an hour and a lot of questions from Dennis and his neighbours we decided to allow the bees to settle in their own good time.  We will go back later this evening and hopefully recover a full hive.





We returned at 7.30 that evening to find most of the bees on the front of the hive, after trying for an hour or so to encourage the bees into the hive i surrendered and went for a welcome cup of tea from next door, Mabel and Chris.  By now it was getting dark and the temperature was dropping and still a large cluster clung to the outside of the hive.  So to last resorts, the hive and bees were wrapped in an old bed cover and gently place in the back of the car, the hive was placed in its permanent position at 10pm and unwrapped.

So to 7.30 the next morning, where are the bees, well a lot of them were outside the hive looking like they intended to take flight and leave, maybe just maybe this swarm have read the books and know that a national hive is not really big enough, so i gave them another brood box.......... Watch this space