My life has fallen into a routine of walking, futurelearn study, and writing. Sometimes I get a cycling session in, when the wind isn't too strong which it has been virtually since March. I take photographs for you, my eyes are never shut and I'm always looking for the interesting or unusual out of the corner of my eye.
I have spent a lot of time training the corner of my eye, you know. And today it came in very handy.
I'd already had an enjoyable walk along the cycle path, through the forgotten reserve and then across the the Sconce for a cup of tea, although the sun was elusive again and the northerly wind a chill one. I had just arrived home and was walking up the drive, when that sensitive optical vertex of mine noticed something sitting on one of the Polish flowers next door.
I leant down and turned my full ocular apparatus on it. It was a pretty worker bumblebee, bright furry yellow of thorax and red of tail, identifying it, I think, as an early bumblebee. It was clearly a tired, chilled bee, absolutely motionless upon the bloom.
"Wait there little bee!" I said, and hustled inside to boil a kettle. I got a spoon and some sugar, poured the hot water upon it and got downstairs without spilling most of it.
The bee was still where I left it, although weak it was able to sit on my finger tip when I moved it under its belly, indeed, it proved to be rather difficult to get off my finger onto the spoon, but eventually I managed to get the bee onto the edge of the sticky, sweet water.
I really have no idea, frankly, if it was drinking or not.
I then reasoned it might be easier for the bee to drink on the ground, and poured some of the sugar water onto the drive, where surface tension held it like a blob of quicksilver. The bee moved in and began, I think, to drink.
I left it alone then.
I have no idea whether it survived or not, as I have been out studying. But I hope I did the right thing, and if I wasn't able to help, maybe I'll get it right next time.
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 08.06.15
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| Contrast between normal and eclipsing mallard |
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| Dog roses are now in bloom |
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| Tree bumblebee enjoying some dandelion |
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| Another tree bumblebee on this attractive plant by the railway line |
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| More new blossom in the forgotten reserve |
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| Fly grazed mini-pony |
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| Hill path in the Sconce Park |
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| Sconce blossom |
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| A different view of Devon Pasture |
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| Healthy early bee |
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| Rescue bee trying to feed |
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| Hopefully, I helped |
Your sugar water should have done the trick, not much you can do about the cold wind though, I rescued a bee out of a muddy puddle to day, just sat him in the sun, had gone when I walked back for a look...
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
Lets hope both of our bees got back to buzzing about as soon as!
ReplyDeleteWe keep a jar of honey (which we don't particularly care for) for just such an occurrence Si - they wallop it down and are gone quickly.
ReplyDeleteWell done for helping the bee! Nice photos too, specially the bees!
ReplyDeleteThe bee obviously made it away somehow - whether under its own steam or in the beak of a bird, I don't know. But I'll try and be optimistic and say it survived. Thank you for your kind comments!
ReplyDeleteWell done for helping the bee - am sure it would have recovered after the sugar water :) Dog Roses appearing here too :)
ReplyDeleteGrand story and pics. I hope the bee survived.
ReplyDelete