Dawg Pics', "Get off the couch."--- 365 images in 2017
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Dawg Pics
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#130/365
This huge bee hive is in my neighbor's front yard. As many times as I watched birds in that tree, this is the first time I noticed the bees. It is hanging there scaring me to death because I am afraid of stinging things. We have severe allergic reactions in my family.
The light was dying, and I discovered my D300 was not acting right. D80 to the rescue.
I am hoping to get a better image in good light so I can freeze their movement.
This huge bee hive is in my neighbor's front yard. As many times as I watched birds in that tree, this is the first time I noticed the bees. It is hanging there scaring me to death because I am afraid of stinging things. We have severe allergic reactions in my family.
The light was dying, and I discovered my D300 was not acting right. D80 to the rescue.
I am hoping to get a better image in good light so I can freeze their movement.
That is a bee swarm and will be gone in a day or two. They are just looking for a new place to make a home. They have split off from another hive when it became overpopulated.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Thank goodness. That explains the sudden appearance. So, if it isn't raining tomorrow, I will see if I can get a better image. If not, I won't be missing them.
Thanks for the information.
Just FYI, the hive of bees becomes overpopulated. The bees raise a new queen bee. The old queen bee leaves the hive and takes a portion of the bees with her. They cluster some place in a swarm like you are seeing. From the swarm, scout bees are sent out to find a new place to make a new hive ie a cavity in a tree, someones old shed... Once they decided where to make their new home, they all go to that place and start the new hive. All of that is the way bee populations increase.
Ask me how I know this. I was a beekeeper for years. Ha! I have removed swarms like that and put them in my hive boxes to increase my bee inventory for honey production.
Ask me how I know this. I was a beekeeper for years. Ha! I have removed swarms like that and put them in my hive boxes to increase my bee inventory for honey production.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Very cool. I was guessing you may have kept bees. I read some articles after you responded about the swarm, which were very interesting. The swarm was there this morning, but is gone now. Hopefully, the scout bees didn't locate my hollowed out oak tree.
I just read your response to my husband. He found it interesting, and didn't know about bee swarms either. He guessed they were honey bees, though.
Thanks a bunch for the education.
I agree when they are in the "swarm" mode because they don't have a hive to protect. In the southern states ie Arizona, Texas... where the Africanized Honey Bees have infiltrated the "docile" statement cannot be made. They can be VERY aggressive when they have a hive to protect. They can be set off by many things... a lawn mower making noise, a tractor rattling by, just walking by, etc. Again, ask me how I know. I have been dealing with them for some time now. Ha!
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
@cwgrizz
You must have been reading my mind. I was wondering about the Africanized bees and aggression.
I didn't want to get too close to the bees since there were so many, and I can't identify one bee from another. Don't know if there is a difference in the way they look, and I certainly didn't want to disturb them Africanized or not.
At least now, I know I can call a beekeeper if I ever need to remove honey bees from the yard.
You must have been reading my mind. I was wondering about the Africanized bees and aggression.
I didn't want to get too close to the bees since there were so many, and I can't identify one bee from another. Don't know if there is a difference in the way they look, and I certainly didn't want to disturb them Africanized or not.
At least now, I know I can call a beekeeper if I ever need to remove honey bees from the yard.
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ID of Africanized bees vs European bees is not easy to do. The Africanized bees are a little smaller, but that is not something that can be determined without precise measurements. Ha! For me there are only two specific ways to ID Africanized bees. DNA testing and the "Kick" test. "Kick" test is you kick the hive and if the bees come out in a solid cloud like in cartoons and attack you up to about a mile away, they are Africanized. European bees usually only attack in small numbers and don't chase for great distances. Africanized bees stay mad all day until the sun goes down.
Back to the swarm. Africanized or European bees in the swarm cluster are usually not aggressive.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Back to the swarm. Africanized or European bees in the swarm cluster are usually not aggressive.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Good pics and good reading! I'll throw my contribution to the discussion here:
10 Health Benefits Of Honey | Care2 Healthy Living
10 Health Benefits Of Honey | Care2 Healthy Living
Bikerbrent_RIP
Senior Member
Boy, talk about an interesting but completely hijacked thread 
Danno_RIP
Senior Member
We have a lot of beekeepers in my county. It is an interesting hobby if you are not allergic to them. Very good info along with the photos. I didn't know that much detail about the swarms. It is good info.
Good photos as well [MENTION=26505]Dawg Pics[/MENTION]. Have you decided on your camera upgrade?
Good photos as well [MENTION=26505]Dawg Pics[/MENTION]. Have you decided on your camera upgrade?
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Thanks a bunch.
After dealing with the new lens and trying to shoot birds, I am leaning toward the D500. Haven't quite decided, though. I plan on going to the store to look at the cameras. With my vision issues, those back-lit buttons along with the fast focusing capability make it pretty hard to pass up.
Of course, buying the lens will eat into my camera and accessory savings, but I am still earning some money to go into the pot to help make up for it.
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Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Thanks, and thanks for the link.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Boy, talk about an interesting but completely hijacked thread
Yup, I tend to hijack my own threads due to my chit-chatty nature. Very often, they go off on varying tangents. I am happy to learn something new.
So, I don't mind a tangents, especially if they are related to an image, which they are most of the time. I am just glad people are paying enough attention to comment whether it be on subject matter or technique.
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Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
#140/365
The opportunity for another tangent. Ha Ha. This is the paperwork that came with an auction item that I was shooting yesterday. What makes it particularly interesting to me is not only the type of item it is, but it has an original typed inquiry letter from the owner along with a response from the manufacturer from 1946. The price was high at $64.50, but it gives you a nice therapeutic sunburn.
Shot with my D80 in really bad light. SOOC
The opportunity for another tangent. Ha Ha. This is the paperwork that came with an auction item that I was shooting yesterday. What makes it particularly interesting to me is not only the type of item it is, but it has an original typed inquiry letter from the owner along with a response from the manufacturer from 1946. The price was high at $64.50, but it gives you a nice therapeutic sunburn.
Shot with my D80 in really bad light. SOOC
