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Sir David Scout Bee
Joined: 17 Dec 2010 Posts: 368 Location: france , angers
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:35 am Post subject: |
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very good pictures |
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Barry Jackson Foraging Bee

Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 231 Location: UK, London N2
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:50 am Post subject: Thank you Bernhard |
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Great Pictures
Thank you
Barry |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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So you want more? Here we go!
Plums are blossoming and the bees are most busy.
A bee looking at the busy folks at the pond.
Pollen - so much pollen.
Willow.
Some bugs eating their way through the pollen abundance. I heared them munching, which is why I spotted them.
Air manoeuvres in the front of the entrance.
Vertical landing boards - no worries.
Just cute!
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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Spring at least!
I observed that the bees hang from the blossoms after the visit, to brush their hair and store the pollen in their pollen baskets.
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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Water, the bees collected really much water throughout the day.
Good friends hugging each other and having a drink or two.
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FollowMeChaps Golden Bee

Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 1554 Location: North Somerset, SW UK
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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What camera do you use Bernhard?
Robin |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Canon EOS 500D
Canon 100mm Macro |
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FollowMeChaps Golden Bee

Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 1554 Location: North Somerset, SW UK
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Bernhard. A fancy bit of kit, beats my point and shoot. Keep those pictures coming; they're BRILLIANT.
Robin |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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I nadired on Sunday - not too late, I'd say. First heavy nectar flow!
What is she looking for?
Like a bear!
Someone at home?
Nectar!
20 degrees Celsius, sunny day and nectar is coming in.
Bernhard |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:09 am Post subject: |
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This is what we call a sand bee - I think it is an Andrena sort of bee called in Latin/English:
Front view:
On a blossom:
Another solitary bee:
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:19 am Post subject: |
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What I try to do, is to take picture of flying bees with a macro lens. Very difficult. Because bees are small objects and pretty fast. Especially the wings, because bees move their wings 1.600 times a second!
I did some pictures with a very high closing/shutter time - more than 2,500 is needed, 5,000 is best. But...the pictures get very dark.
I tried different things, changing ISO, used a strong lamp and so on. Not satisfied, yet!
I really like this series, although a bit dark - the bees throws up it's forearms before jumping. I like that one. Like people bungee-jumping.
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:24 am Post subject: |
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The bees brought in some 4 kilogramms of nectar/honey last week. They also nearly finishing two fresh combs.
The box in the middle of a stack of three boxes is packed with brood.
Bernhard |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Another small observation I made. Bees tend to land on other bees, that are
over and over covered in pollen. (Willow and other sources.)
Even during flight, they try to land on them! Must be most attractive.
Bernhard |
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mini-thumper Foraging Bee
Joined: 13 Jun 2010 Posts: 197 Location: UK, Derbyshire, Derby
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Bernhard
Brilliant photographs! You must be very patient - digital has much to be thanked for; can you imagine doing this with 35mm film?
With regard to bees landing on bees. I was sitting watching my bees yesterday afternoon and observed lots of bees seemingly being 'set upon' possibly as intruders. They too were always the most polleny bees so it must be a common strategy they employ - I wonder why?
Keep up the good work.......
Boyd |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:27 am Post subject: |
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Delivery service!
The fresh drawn combs get filled with honey immediately.
Guards of the brood.
When do they hatch??
This bees polishes the hive walls.
Heating bees.
Bernhard |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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The first queen cell / cup started in 2012! It gets visited every second and has a lot of attention of the workers.
Bees massively carry in water and can be found on many blossoms.
You even see the nectar in the flowers.
Cherries, some apple and pear trees are blossoming already. Others don't due to the chilly nights we have now.
Some more impressions of the day:
Bernhard |
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BoBnh Foraging Bee
Joined: 20 Apr 2011 Posts: 230 Location: USA/New Hampshire
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Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 1:43 am Post subject: |
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Bernhard, When are you going to publish a picture book?
Those are amazing photos.
They are probably the best bee (and insect) pictures that i have seen.
Bob |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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A second queen cell was started.
Both cells gets visited and cared for frequently.
Chewing gum while working...
Today the bees carried in pollen like mad. Really a lot of pollen. Nectar income was not that much, although cherries and a lot of bushes are in full blossoming.
The bees build on comb here and there.
Bernhard |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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I supered empty boxes today. (Nadired already some time ago. Hives are bursting.)
I used foundations as ladders, so the bees do not build upwards, thus connecting the boxes. I pre-heated the foundation with a blowtorch and used scissors to cut it to size.
I clamped the foundation between split topbar halves, nailing them together.
I used the blowtorch to melt the upper extending foundation, the molten wax runs into the gaps making it really sticking to the topbar.
Two "ladders" for each super box.
Seems to work.
Crowding - I love it.
Bernhard |
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MObeek Silver Bee

Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Posts: 849 Location: Northwest MO, USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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To Bernhard,
Thanks for a good idea on making ladders for supers. Have you also tried moving a comb into the super? If so, did it work also? |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:48 am Post subject: |
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Yes, works very well. Since I am writing an article for beginners, presumbly with no empty combs at hands, I used foundation for the pictures. You could make use of the prime combs from swarm bait boxes, for example.
Bernhard |
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MikeRobinson Foraging Bee
Joined: 01 Apr 2012 Posts: 201 Location: Upper Northwest Georgia, USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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You're an excellent nature photographer and, with your knowledge and obvious love of bee-nature (and the unusual experience of having beehives in your house), I could seriously see a book to be written here. |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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The combs in the box below the supered box are almost finished - and filled with honey to the rim!
I can hear the bees fanning a lot - the air around the hive smells like fresh honey. Beautiful!
Bee highway up!
The top of the foundations get drawn out now. On each side of the two foundations.
Next to the foundation small building clusters start comb next to the foundation.
Seems to work as intended. When the May nectar flow hits the combs should be ready to take all that lovely warm honey.
Bernhard |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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Yesterday I spotted the first drones of the year.
The queen cups still get attended, but do not grow much, just swelling a little, getting broader as it looks like.
I expect a swarm in a week or two maybe. I now prepare a combined swarm&pollen-trap. I will report.
Bernhard |
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MObeek Silver Bee

Joined: 20 Jul 2011 Posts: 849 Location: Northwest MO, USA
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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To Bernhard,
Could you please write an ebook with tons of your past pictures and info on what you did, when you did it and how it turned out? It would really be a great step-by-step info for new beeks and beek-wannabees for sure. I'm willing to pay for a fair price for it.  |
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jefdby Nurse Bee
Joined: 24 Mar 2012 Posts: 39 Location: Indiana, USA
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:27 am Post subject: |
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Me too! I want the book
How do you get into the hive so much to take photos?
A friend had to tell me the queen was in one of my photos. She was in a rosette of workers.
I love your photos, and your attic Idea. I wondered if I could do that, but then I saw how you have a window, and walkin ability. I have an American attic....no access to ME really. oh well.
Jennifer |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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I have a window in all hive boxes, which is really a nice thing to have. So much to learn without disturbing them.
Bernhard |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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Flight studies. I am still struggling with highspeed flash settings and all.
Bernhard |
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zaunreiter Moderator Bee

Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 3097 Location: Germany, NorthWest
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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Foundations get drawn out. The combs getting thicker.
At work.
Hook off, mate!
Swarm cells grow slowly.
But get worked on continiously.
One full box with honey already filled.
Bernhard |
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colobeekeep Scout Bee
Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 289 Location: USA, Colorado, Denver
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:33 am Post subject: |
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Hi Bernhard. Great pictures!!!
I have a question. How do you get the pictures of the comb with just a few bees in the way? When I try to take pictures through my Warré observation windows, the combs are always covered by lots of bees, and they are always building 3 or more combs simultaneously, so there's always a crowd of bees in the way. |
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