Beekeeping part 1: Swarm!

Today I became a Bee-keeper.

I've wanted to keep bees for several years now, but I just never got around to it. I was keen enough to start a bee-keeping course, buy books on the subject and go to a couple (ok, one) meeting in, I think, 2004, but never found the time or confidence to make the leap and buy all the gear and get me some bees. Until now.

This afternoon I happened to be (bee?) looking out of my bedroom window when I spotted a mass of insects flying around in the garden. Initially I just assumed is was gnats, but it soon became obvious that they were far larger than gnats. Taking a closer look I could tell it was a swarm of bees, so I went excitedly to the back door to have a closer look. Just in the space of a few minutes it seemed that there were far fewer bees flying than before, and I felt a bit disappointed that they had flown away so soon. I scanned the sky to see if I could spot the rest, but there was no sign. I then happened to glance at the nearby compost bin...and there they were! A solid cluster of honeybees making their way, one by one, into my compost bin!

It looks like the bees got fed up waiting for me to get a hive and set up home in my compost bin instead.

It's going to be a steep learning curve, but I'm determined to look after my unexpected guests, and I feel honoured that they chose my garden when they swarmed. I'd best get a hive sorted asap!

The swarm beginning to settle on my compost bin. The last few bees make their way into the compost bin.