What's Buzzin' or Flying Near You Today..? MK 3..

Not sure if this is the right place for this but here's the story - we have a really ramshackle shed - been talking about replacing it for years - the windows are hanging out and some wood has rotted - used more for storage until summer when boxes (of pots) cushions etc are cleared out and moved into greenhouse and it gets used fully once we have the pool out for the grandchildren. Today buzzing about near a dislodged window were lots of bees - none settled so I couldnt get a clear picture but one at a time they were entering through the window with about 5 or 6 remaining outside. A bit further down where some of the wood is rotted looks like leaves have been taken inside - dont think it is growing as it has a floor - and last year a bit of wood was put inside to cover this bit of rotten slat. The bees look brown with a black stripe and a white bit on the end (although not all have the white bit from the blurred photos) - here's a photo of the rotten bit with the leaves with a blurry bee.

Mr S is planning on clearing out the shed tomorrow - I will be safely in the greenhouse - he is of the assumption that once disturbed the bees will move on to somewhere else - obviously I don't want to hurt them but at the same time don't want him to be stung

I think the time has come to buy the new shed - but apart from that - any advice ?

S

 

They looks as though - head down - they are eating something?

 

I've just taken this. Sorry, not the best of shots. Mr. Blackbird was sitting on the pole in my garden singing his heart out, while Mrs. Blackbird was putting the kids to bed in our hedge.

 

Thanks Armandii, I've just put another picture in the weather thread should you want to take a look, an unusual sunset this evening.

 

Update on the bees in the shed - I rang the council's pest control for some advice - they offered to come out and get rid - by spraying - but when asked, they said some would definitely die Not an option obviously (and they would charge £95 + VAT)

I have read (and read) and found out they are Tree Bumblebees. They like to nest in holes in trees or sheds, and unused birdboxes. This morning Mr S went down to the shed, pulled out a couple of boxes of pots, behind these was our garden cushions - he lifted them off one by one until a mound of them like a small football was under the last one he removed - they had nested in the bottom one of the pile. At that, he ran - came upstairs and left them to it for an hour or so, with the shed door open.

I went back down with him - he dragged the cushion, or what was left of it, out of the shed with a long handled claw tool into the middle of the grass - they were flying about but were totally not aggressive. From there, the cushion was moved to the top of the garden by the compost bins. Again we left them to it. I went down later - was doing my own thing - and taking the odd photo in between they were flying around in the shed and outside. I decided to cover the nest with a deep tray destined for the bin as it had a hole in the side - perfect I thought for them to get in and out. Later tonight once they were asleep we folded the unused part of the cushion over them - lots flew out - there were not many left in the shed - means some of them have found the newly-sited nest. Plan is to cover the whole thing with one of my dalek bins that has only just started being used leaving a gap in the flap so they can get in and out which will mean they are at least watertight. There were some non-fliers on the grass and I scooped them and put them over by the nest. I suspect there are some of these non-fliers in the shed still - they will be moved as we find them - I'm not afraid of them, although of couple of them raised their arms in the air as a warning as I scooped them - one was clinging to a blade of grass which I was able to pick and carry . Could see some honeycomb looking cells - some were empty at the side and some fresh ones had non-fliers crawling on them - I am assuming the Queen is a bit deeper inside.

There's no way they could have stayed there - the whole cushion was chewed - the shed and my grass is covered in little bits of foam.

Phew - What a day !!! Will see what tomorrow brings. Hopefully we have been successful - and I will forfeit my compost area for this year. While we were out there this evening the little mouse darted out of the lemon balm to eat some of the bird food that had dropped from the feeder overhead. Brave little thing.

S

 

First young Siskins, only two but they came alone without mum and dad.

 

What a wonderful post that was Sumbody. You are so kind to give them an opportunity to relocate and to give up your compost area for them.
Thank you so much for sharing this event with us,
Jenny

 

Never every seen one of these before!