Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

I haven't seen one yet, but I would think that bees are starting to emerge as we have been having such warm weather. Will they be starting to look for their new place to form a hive now?

I read a brilliant article in New Scientist about how bees choose the place for their hive. Basically, a small amount of them go out and search, then come back and do a dance to the rest of the bees about how good it is. Then other bees fly out and support them and go back to the place. If the other bees like it, they will go back and dance, if they don't like it, they support a different bee. After a while the whole hive supports the one that majority of the bees liked, and they all fly off to that one.

Ive seen a couple and my friend says one has taken residence in her compost heap.

I haven't seen any bees yet. Nor any wasps

I saw my first honey bee of the year on Monday. Bumblebees have bee about on or off for a couple of weeks round here, mainly feeding on gorse flowers.

I haven't seen any yet, I'm keeping a look out though. We are having a very cold snap at the moment so I wouldn't think there would be any out at the moment.

I managed to take a picture of a bumble the other day, feeding on the lungwort in my garden - just shows you how important it is to have early flowers!

Actually, I saw some today while playing golf.

Went walking yesterday at Wakehurst Place (Sussex) and saw 2 bumblebees and a honey bee, so they are deffinitely around.

does anyone get the little bees that come to gardens a bit later on when the weather warms up that make little mounds in the soil like mini molehills?
They seem to come each year but i know very little about them,anyone got any info please?

These would either be Minner Bees or Digger Wasps. I have never had them in my garden, but they are in their hundreds on the paths along my Valley. Here's some photos of our species.
BWARS

thanks for that Chris,they are deff a bee not wasp so I guess they are the miner bee,I will try to get some pictures if they come this year