Bumble Bees

[Ruthie]

Can't believe I STILL haven't seen a Bumble Bee!! Will keep looking tho'.

[blodau]

Thank you all.

Isabella, that is a lovely photograph. I can see why the bumble bee liked them. Can I ask you which county you're in so that we can plot where your bumble bee is?

[blodau]

Me again!

I've just been reminded that the bees we see now are the queens looking for this year's nest, so very important if we are to see this little pollinator around in the Summer.

[isabella]

I live in Surrey Blodau

[Chuckles]

Hi Blodau guess what I heard today, took me a second or two to register. It came buzzing around a tray of Pansies and as I looked up it was gone as quickly as it came. I'm near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.

[blodau]

Thank you both. I'll pass it on so that you can be plotted on the map.

[snowowl]

Feb 22, 2009 8:44:46 GMT Ladygardener said:

Feb 21, 2009 21:11:08 GMT isabella said:

These crocus flowers

Isabella those are lovely, it must have been nice and warm for them to open like that.

[isabella]

Thankyou Snowowl

I had 2 big Bumble Bees buzzing around the garden again today ;D

[Chuckles]

Bumble has been buzzing around the Mahonia today, infact it was still buzzing around at 5.30 tonight.

I didn't know that the bees we see now are the queens looking for this year's nest, you live and learn

[snowowl]

First sighting today a big fat one flew into my window screen when i was out shopping.
I was at Long Eaton at the time.
Also my OH has seen quite a few this week at work he works outside at the councill depot in Kimberley.

[Ruthie]

My first sighting too (in Norfolk) and I saw 3 different types! Can't identify them but one was the really big bumbling bumble bee if you know what I mean. The other 2 I would class as bumble bees as they were a good size and sort of round. We also saw a Queen wasp which atacked the cat!!!

[Juliet]

Bee ID guides here: www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/insects-spiders/identification-guides-and-keys/bumblebees/index.html

I saw a whole lot more yesterday - bumble bees and other bees all over the heather. And a big fat bumble bee bumped into the window today. I hope the one I saw at the end of January survived all the snow

[Tig]

I've seen about eight today, everything from huge bumblebees to honey bees ..





;D x Tig

[Barbara]

I can report my first sighting this year of a very large bee, it's sitting on my front doorstep I'm not letting it inside.

[blodau]

Thank you to everyone reporting their sightings. I will pass them all on. I can actually report my own bumble bee this morning. It came to visit me while I was sowing seeds in the greenhouse.

[Plocket]

We had three bees in the garden this weekend but they were wild bees, not bumble bees

[Rosefriend]

I don't suppose that this counts as I am on the other side of the water but I saw a huge bumble bee this afternoon.

RF

[blodau]

Hi both.

Thank you for your sightings. I will pass them on anyway. Last time I spoke to Carl, he had been busy making bumble bee houses up at his allotment. As he said, he's going to be really disappointed if the bees ignore his 5 star residence and opt for somewhere else. I have promised to leave a patch of nettles on my allotment and to plant some borage. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif

[Plocket]

Tell him to start a compost heap - they love those in the winter for somewhere to nest. But then I guess he'd know that already!

[Tig]

I watched an item on the news this morning about the plight of the bees in the US - California almond groves were suffering evidently. The 'expert' the interviewed said he didn't think the scientific researchers had a clue what the problem was, and maybe the bees were just overworked due to lack of interim nectar between sites, which made them more succeptible to varroa and other hive problems

I'm doing my best to help them, think we should all go out and scatter seed in the verges

x Tig

[Ladygardener]

I saw an absolutely huge bee buzzing past today in Belfast.

[Yakram]

There were several large bumblebees collecting pollen from the Kilmarnock Willows in a GC I visited today. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif
In my own garden, both small and large bumblebees are attracted to the smell of abandoned wood mouse nests.
A mouse had used some 'woolmoss' over the previous winter, which I used to line a hanging basket last Spring. I left the basket under a garden seat, ready to fill with soil and plants, but when I eventually tried to retrieve it, a very loud buzzing sound indicated that I should not move it. I spent a pleasant summer watching the bees busy to-ing and fro-ing. They ignored my purpose-built bee boxes, but there's always this year. ;D

[blodau]

Thank you all. I will be passing the information on.

[carolann]

I still have not seen any bees yet! yesterday I was working in the garden most of the day and it was quite warm and the Crocus where all opened up but not a one did I see.

[Missredhead]

I saw my first one today...a great big fat one buzzing around.

[blodau]

I'm sure it's only a matter of time Carolann.

MRH, I shall pass your sighting on.

Blod

[Plocket]

We had LOADS of big fat bumble bees buzzing around today - they particularly like the heather

[blodau]

Thanks P. I'll pass your message on.

[Dutchy]

I had my first one at MssK today. A big fat one. Still none in my own garden.

[carolann]

Hooray!!!!!!! I have finally seen a bee today but it was too quick to get a piccy of, it landed on the Crocus in the window box outside the kitchen door. I'm about 15 miles north East of Manchester Blod.