A Small Swarm - Landing On A Cross

The other day I had my evening planned to perfection. I had a talk quite far away (the other side of stroud) and I always like to leave in good time so I'm not rushing and I'm there nice and early. 

Then I got a knock at the door, our neighbour looks after the church, locking and unlocking it each day. He'd seen a swarm of bees. Now really I'm not next in line to get the bees from the church, having already had some and my friend who normally gets them currently being out of bees. So we, Eldest and I, walked over and had a look, all the while I tried to ring my friend. 

It was a small swarm, very small. No way were they going to survive unless they found somewhere quick, as it looked to be a cold night with some potential for rain. I said we'd get them.

 

The three of us suited up and got to it. I was very aware of time, so I got them into the box, got them over to our apiary and then left the girls to it. 

The bees were in good hands. Although my eldest also need to leave as she had cubs! 

So Middlest was left to make sure everything was okay. She even went out before she went to bed to collect in the ramp and the sheet we'd used. 

We have checked on them a few days after and they seem fine, not many bees, but already drawing wax on their new frames. We put them in an old frame of drawn comb as well. Hopefully we can build these up over the summer. They're currently in a nuc, the smaller space being better for the smaller swarm, I hope they get to out grow it soon!