We had a swarm here on Tuesday - from one of the two chimney colonies. I was on the phone, glanced out of the window and saw a few insects flying in an unusual way, then they doubled in number, and again, and soon the whole area of the front garden (between two lines of trees) was full of the whirling cloud of them. They looked at one of our trees and then settled in a sycamore over the road, far too high for any beekeeper to collect them. They were there overnight, and left early the next morning, but I don't know where they went, didn't see them go.

While investigating keepers, I found out that some colony losses are being attributed to the use of insecticides on some nests, and subsequent robbing of contaminated honey by other colonies. (Robbing? Recycling, surely, if the nest is dead.) They won't have got the stuff from my wall next, fortunately, as it is sealed up now.

Lots of bumbles on our brambles, and different ones on my sage by the front door.

Penny