As if we don't have enough to contend with .....

[Bridget]

...the bushes and trees next to our apiary are full of little blue tits and I suspect they are picking off my bees. Tried to get a video but they all scarpered so have no evidence mi lud. Does anyone know if they are going for live bees (just a few flying today when the sun came out) or picking the dead ones off the landing boards?

[Mellifera Crofter]

I think you might be right, Bridget. Not that I know, but a quick Google around told me they rub the bee's sting on the ground before eating it. I don't know whether that's true. You'll probably lose only a few bees (let's hope only a few!), and you're compensated by such a lovely sight of blue tits! I don't think I've ever seen a blue tit here.
Kitta

[fatshark]

My 'garden' on the west coast is awash with blue and great tits at the moment - all busy jockeying for position to get to the nest boxes. Not a bee in site, not even a bumble yet this year. Frogspawn in the ponds and snow on the hills with golden eagles overhead on their nuptial flights.

There could be worse places to avoid coronavirus ;)

[Mellifera Crofter]

Bridget, somebody has just posted a video about feeding bees to bee-eater birds here (https://youtu.be/gcrCC_tN1pA) - but you might have seen it as well. I thought it was interesting because it showed the birds getting rid of the bees' sting. I guess your blue tits would do the same! Are your bees still ok? And the blue tits?
Kitta

[Bridget]

That’s a cool film Kitta,thanks. Bees doing ok in the main. Birds still around but not so much. Hope you are all well. Stay safe.


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