Much bee activity yet this year?

[Colin_M]

I saw plenty of larger "bumble" types at the end of March/early April and we also had the usual patrols of queen wasps checking out our bathroom!

However it's been pretty cold/windy since then, and there's not been much visible activity on the bee front.

For those of you with hives or who try to attract Mason bees, can you let us know how 2008 is going for you?

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Colin, i too have seen huge amounts of large Bumble bees this year, when it's been sunny that is.
But no Mason bees until today, it's been raining heavily all morning, but finally stop about twenty minutes ago.
Now there must be about fifty Mason bees flying about the brickwork on the front of my house.
Where do they suddenly all appear from.

[Colin_M]

Thanks for that OH, I have two nests out in the garden which I'll go and check for any signs of visits.

Here's a view from a few years ago (things have been much quieter since then):

[PLUMPUDDING]

We've had lots of large bumble bees for a few weeks now, I think three different kinds, a very large yellow and black one, one with a red bottom and a smaller one with much paler stripes.

This week there have been a few hive type bees too. I've not seen any Mason bees yet though.

[goldilox]

Down here we get loads of mason bees and various other types including bumbles, but so far this year I've only seen one honey bee. We used to have plenty when a neighbour had hives in his wood, but then he sold them 2 years ago.

A friend has just been offered some bee hives and is saving 2 for me. We'll probably be too late to stock them with bees this year, but hope to start next spring.

Any advice on beekeeping would be gratefully appreciated