Wildlife Photos and Recordings

On Midsummer morning I stepped out into the back garden to dispose of some kitchen waste in the compost bin. On lifting the lid, much to my surprise, I was accosted by 10 – 15 bees which drifted out from inside.  Swarms of fruit flies are commonplace, but not honey bees.  Having delivered the waste to the bin, rather bemusedly, I replaced the compost bin lid and took the dog out for a walk. We were out all morning, it being a beautiful day, sunny and hot. On approaching the back garden to collect in the washing I immediately became aware of a vibrant hum. On opening the door the hum was insistent, deep and intense and the garden was full of hundreds of buzzing honey bees. It was exhilarating standing in the middle of all these tiny creatures all intent on descent to my compost bin which was swarming with them as they landed and found their way in through the air vents below the lid. I decided it might not be advisable to take in the washing at that present moment, so went back indoors firmly closing it behind me.

Safely indoors I phoned my beekeeper friend Rachel who promised to come round later to collect the swarm.  It did not take the swarm long to fill the bin, so I pulled up a chair in the garden with a cool drink and soaked in the experience. Bees dancing instructions to each other and tumbling in and flying out of the vents. I was beginning to feel rather proprietorial, the bees having chosen my garden after all.  I spent the best part of the afternoon watching them and wondering if I could possibly keep them in my compost bin.  I was uncertain as to how my neighbours would take to the idea! It felt to me that the bees had chosen my garden and my compost bin to make their new home.  I felt very privileged.

When Rachel arrived that evening, she brought with her a ‘nuc’, a kind of travelling box/hive for bees.  It was vital to catch the Queen bee in the nuc so that the swarm would follow.  However we were unable to identify the Queen, so were uncertain if she was in the nuc or still in the compost bin! We decided to leave the nuc in the compost bin overnight in the hope that the bees would fill it if the Queen was already there.

Early the following morning, the first thing I did was run out into the garden to check on the bees.  There was absolutely no activity around the compost bin, and, alarmingly, on raising the lid, there were no bees in the compost bin, but the nuc was full and there was absolutely no sign of movement at all.  Not what one expects of a hive of bees! I was completely horrified, thinking we had managed to kill them all. I immediately contacted Rachel, devastated at the realisation of what had transpired.

I took the dog out for a walk. On arriving home at lunchtime, imagine my relief on finding bees flitting in and out of the compost bin quite contentedly.  They were not dead but had only been asleep. I never for a moment imagined that a whole colony of bees could be completely still as they had been in the early morning when I had approached, fast asleep. I was greatly relieved and thrilled to find them happily going about their business.

When Rachel arrived again that evening, when foraging was over for the day, they were all silent and still in the nuc.  Gently Rachel laid a ‘super’ over the nuc, filled with sugar and water for the bees to feed on whilst in transportation, and applied the lid securely. They would have to stay in the nuc for at least three days, or they would fly back to where they came from – the compost bin! My bees have now been ensconced in their new hive in Cammo.

You too can visit them there, where there are several hives in the north east corner of the walled garden.  I am sure they will be content in their new home where I can keep an eye on them and look forward to honey in the autumn.  I felt very blessed by my visitation with the bees on midsummer’s day, a Midsummer Miracle.

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Esther Davidson