The Swarm

We had a beekeeper come to see us a couple of weeks ago to ask if we would mind if he put some hives on our farm.  We immediately agreed, and while everyone was thinking how it would be fantastic to have a groups of hives on the farm, I was thinking about all the amazing photographic opportunities I would have!

So I headed down to the hives this afternoon, and found this cluster of bees on the outside of one of the hives.  Goodness knows why they were clinging to the outside;  I thought the idea of hives is for the bees to go inside and leave their honey deposits behind!  If I see the beekeeper, I must remember to ask him.

Have a look at it enlarged - it's quite spectacular!