Swarming Bees

Today, I had a knock at the door, and my neighbour was stood there with a bit of an alarmed look. Transpired she had to escape her back garden, via the rear gate, as a swarm of bees had appeared between her and the back door to her house.

I had a quick look and as I thought, it was a swarm of Honey Bees Apis mellifera, which had landed in a Pyracantha Pyracantha sp.. I rang a local Bee Keeper using this very useful website here, and because of the swarms location, deep inside the Pyracantha, it was decided that we would leave it for 24 hours, as there was every possibility they would move on.

And sure enough they did leave and fairly smartish, and within an hour of landing in the hedgerow they were up and away heading south over several gardens in the neighbourhood.

Below are a few photos and videos of the swarm in the Pyracantha and heading off down the neighbouring gardens.

A swarm of Honey Bees Apis mellifera in my neighbours Pyracantha Pyracantha sp.

A close-up of the swarm

A short video of the swarm

Slow-motion

And the swarm leaving my neighbours garden