Caught a small swarm today

[beyondthesidewalks]

I worked with a tower crew in Van Alstyne, TX today, about 2.5 hours from home.  Just as I was wrapping up with the tower crew my neighbor called to let me know there was a swarm in a tree along one of his pastures.  I drove home as fast as I could through Dallas rush hour traffic and got home as quick as I could.  It's been a sparse swarm season here.  I think it's because of the warm winter we had.  Anyway, I was so worried that I would miss this swarm I raced home and grabbed a 5 frame nuc.

I drove to the location of the swarm and couldn't find them.  My neighbor said it was a basketball or football sized swarm.  When I finally found them they were a very small swarm.  I could fit all of them in my cupped hands.  I shook them into the nuc and played with them a while.  I found the queen on the side of my box.  I coaxedher in the top and watched her disappear in the frames.  The bees slowly followed while I held the box.  There were many stragglers and I scooped them up with my free hand and dropped them in the nuc.  That's when I realized I left my phone (which is also my camera) in my work truck.  I my haste not to miss the swarm, I forgot to take pictures.  Sorry for that.

Proud to have my first swarm of the season.  Hopefully there will be more and I can do a better job of sharing them.

[Country Heart]

Congrats on your first of the season