Sunday, January 25, 2015

Honeybees in January


Two days ago we had snow on the ground and freezing winds. Then the thaw arrived.






































Today, at mid-day, it was like spring, with warm sunshine coaxing out honeybees in our son's back garden at Winlaton Mill near Gateshead.























The bees were busy collecting pollen from Viburnum tinus. There as also a bumblebee out, but it flew away over the fence before I could see what species it was of take a photograph.






































This one had full pollen baskets

More on winter honeybees here


7 comments:

  1. First small tortoiseshell butterfly of 2015 fluttered past me this morning

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    Replies
    1. haven't seen any early butterflies yet - live in hope though!

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  2. Much warmer with us on Sunday but no sunshine, had looked for ladybirds, Honeybee and Butterflies and yet it's even to cold for me... due to get colder this week too :(
    Amanda xx

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    Replies
    1. One step forward, two steps back at the moment - but it's inching closer to spring!

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  3. Amazing how quickly they've reacted to change in temperature. Activity around a bee-hive at New Lambton at weekend.
    More surprising for me was Bats out at 4 spots between Lumley Castle & Houghton.
    Think they'll be retreating back into their hidey holes this week !

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  4. Amazed that there are bats out - you'd have thought that the energy expended would jeopardise the rest of their hibernation

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  5. Interesting that you saw a bumblebee, I thought the winter active ones were confined to the southern part of the country, but clearly not.

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