Bees

[Stan]

The warmth and sunshine brought out a whole colony of bees yesterday - must have been 200 to 300 of them around and both Dee and I bravely got very close for a few shots

Two from me and two from Dee, shot either with EF 100 f2.8 L IS or EF-S 60 f2.8, hans held, shutter speeds between 1/100 and 1/250 @ ISO 800

Stan

[tesarver]

Re: Bees

Stan -- Well done, can't wait to see them here.

Tom

[colin C]

Re: Bees

All excellent, but number 2 gets my vote.

[Bill53]

Re: Bees

All good Stan, particularly like no 4.

Bill.

[wayne2418]

Re: Bees

Nice ones Stan ..really sharp.

[Columbarius]

Re: Bees

I know about you and Dee, but who's Hans?

Overwintering honey bees will often emerge from the hive on bright days in January/February for reasons of personal hygiene (known to beekepers as a "cleansing flight" - they don't mess in the hive) and to forage on any available foodstuff. Nectar & pollen from early flowering bulbs like snowdrops and crocus or winter jasmine (a real favourite) or pollen from hazel and other catkins.

They usually start the queen laying in late January early February and 3 days after being laid the egg will hatch into a larva and require feeding. So the poor workers who have managed to survive the winter have to go and find food. Though a kind beekeeper will have made sure they have sufficient stores going into winter, and will top it up if necessary.

I think the 100mm macro has just hit the top of my want list. Nice pictures both.

[Stan]

Re: Bees

Thanks for looking guys

Overwintering honey bees will often emerge from the hive on bright days in January/February for reasons of personal hygiene (known to beekepers as a "cleansing flight" - they don't mess in the hive)

thats interesting - you can see the results of the "cleansing" in the last shot

Stan

[Columbarius]

Re: Bees

I'd been wondering about that. Well caught!

[Stan]

Re: Bees

I'd been wondering about that. Well caught!

I did get a couple of shots in mid cleansing, the "stream" almost as long as the bee itself but unfortunately not sharp enough to keep

Stan

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: Bees

Excellent work Stan, you must be buzzzzzzing

[JaKS_Foto]

Re: Bees

Excellent work Stan, you must be buzzzzzzing

Oh dear oh dear

Excellent shots. We had a couple in the garden Saturday, it was quite warm and very sunny. But 300/400 is great.

[Stan]

Re: Bees

Thanks Stephen and JaKS

We had a couple in the garden Saturday, it was quite warm and very sunny. But 300/400 is great

not seen any in the garden as yet - these were all at the BWC

Stan

[JaKS_Foto]

Re: Bees

not seen any in the garden as yet - these were all at the BWC

Stan

I'm not sure whether the warmth brought a couple out, may have been hibernating in our large shed.

We are seeing ladybirds already, found one in the fridge!