Welcome To A Journey To Meet My Resident Bees... Well for most of the year we share the same Environment... They do go visiting elsewhere a few times each year... But, this Journey is during one of their return times....
01.04.2014
This past Post I've shared with
'Our World Tuesday'
March 31, 2014
Hosted by..
Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer
Hosted by..
Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer
I had a most amazing experience doing the following photos.
I had just finished cleaning and filling my Ganders' Shell Ponds. The Sun was shining in a blue Sky. The Air felt freshly clean, not too cool or warm... it was a truly lovely day.
I had gone upstairs and was on my way back when I noticed the Bees. There were hundreds of them.
They were gathering around and onto the sides of the Ganders' Shell Ponds, and also landing on the newly fallen Grevillea Silky Oak Tree's Leaves. The Leaves had perfectly timed their drifting descent to land onto the new Water I had just finished achieving in the Shell Ponds. In so doing, the Grevillea Silky Oak's Leaves had become like floating pontoons for the Bees to safely be on.
The sight of all those Bees was astounding. Also a perfect opportunity to photograph them, if they'd let me while they were socialising, drinking and yes, doing ablutionary tasks also.
To my great pleasure and delight....
That is one very beautiful Bee, I am sure you will agree. And yes, I was this close to do the photo. With my Vivaz phone being my only camera source I had no choice. But golly gosh. The results still have me quite in awe every time I see these photos.
If you would like to continue with my amazing experience, please do....
What ever words I fail in, I'm sure these photos will make up for. The Bee in the foreground has it's foot bit in the water. I love the wonderful Water-Circle radiating from the contact feel it is having with the Bee.
The next photo is of a single Bee...
Truly beautiful is the Bee. Delicious is the Honey they create from Pollen.
I was having an amazing time. The Bees allowed me amid them, and I was doing these photos amid the swarm. Bending over and leaning into the Shell Ponds to get close enough for the phone's Macro setting to work... and oh gosh it did for these photos. All the while I was surrounded by hundreds of Bees, with their permission to do these. Astonishing experience. Truly magical.
The next photo is of two Bees again... different ones I think. Well how awful of me... I was so busy lining up the phone and trying not to fall in I was not taking note of who was who... apologies...
I really am amazed with what the Bees have let me have. So appreciative of my phone's achievement too.
Now, if you look carefully, both are drinking. You can see the Bee's proboscis. Easiest to see on the one furthest away, but they are both drinking. I find I can feel that feeling one has when a drink is doing all the right things to the palate and all the way into the body as I look at them. Quiet satisfaction is my description.
The next Bee photo is of a group....
They also are drinking. The Bee on the far left is doing quite a stretching process to not end up in the Water. The near hind leg reaching out and is just supported by the Grevillea Silky Oak Tree's Leaf. The Leaf tip near the leg is just pressuring the Water, has not quite penetrated the Water's surface tension.
Next is another single Bee...
Life is abundant with wondrous Life Forms. I look at this Bee, like I do the others... they are each different, similar yes, because they are Bees... but as uniquely individual also.
My photographic tools may be lacking... but I really do feel these photos allow one to glimpse the wondrous perfection of Bees. I really appreciate the Grevillea Silky Oak Tree assisting the Setting with its Leaves. The results have been enhanced and intensified because of the Leaves.
Nearly done... the next photo I could not resist including...
That is the cutest back end. Love the way its Wings are held raised off its body. The veins in their transparent Wings create beautiful patterns. Bees have beautiful colouring.
Now for the last photo of this amazing Journey. I am so glad I have been able to share this astonishing time with you...
I cropped this photo when I discovered the Spider on it. I also went running back outside to make sure it was safe. I could not find it. B ut I also could find no drowned bodies either.... so I'm presuming it made it's way back to Terra-Firma. Would have been quite an Adventure, finding its Self travelling down with the Leaf to find its Self then on a raft on Water with Bees all about.
I feel the Spider may have been having a say by the expression of the Bee in the background. While doing the photo I had seen the Bee turn its head... just didn't realize at the time what it was seeing.
When I mentioned ablutions earlier on, what I didn't mention was who was the towel.... well it was me!
I was asking and hoping, as my hands were being used for drying, to please not sting me. I really was not sure I would not drop my phone into the Shell Ponds if I had been stung. But the occasion was not about defence, it was about a Social Outing, and I just happened to be a handy venue for the Bee to dry its Self upon.
The feeling of the Bee drying its Self, walking about on the back of my hand and grooming its Self would have to have been one of the softest, gentlest experiences I have so far felt.
All in all, a very magical day.
The Bees reside in a Tree beside the entrance of my rental's property. Next to a huge Fig Tree where I photographed my Friend "Smiling Leaf" who introduces my Blog.
The Bees do regular Trips to Other Places. Have sometimes been gone for a few months. Then they return, and each time there seems to be more. They had recently returned when I was privileged to be allowed amid them to do the photos I shared here. The timing had turned out good for all involved with the day back in August 2010.
Updating for April 2014.
The Bees have not been back for at least two years. Occasionally there are a few Bees about the place, the Tree is checked, but no more do they live here in large numbers.
Though there may no longer be an active bee-hive to observe and enjoy, new neighbours have moved in... Kookaburras.
They have raised young in a Tree behind where the Bees lived.
A new adventure, a new experience.
The introductory image is from -
http://www.animated-gifs.eu
All Photos have been achieved by me with my Sony Ericsson Phone Vivaz and remain my own.
Thank you for your time. I truly hope you have enjoyed this Journey. I have very much enjoyed the Sharing.
Appreciation and good wishes to you from Magda.
Do go and discover what others have shared with
'Our World Tuesday'
by clicking on their Logo on my side-bar.
Do go and discover what others have shared with
'Our World Tuesday'
by clicking on their Logo on my side-bar.
These are incredible photos, and from a cell-phone camera? You can see every hair on those bees!
ReplyDeleteMy good friend has a little garden pond in her yard, and there are always dozens of bees along one edge, drinking.
Hi CINDY, thanks for visiting and giving input.
DeleteI agree, the photos turned out surprisingly well, and yes, are from my Cell-phone. My recent phone gives me some lovely results, not all the time, but when it does, it does so beautifully.
Having your positive response when you do amazing Bug Photos is truly an honour. Thank you deeply.
All my photos for some years now have been achieved by one of three different Cell-phones. Vivaz is my recent. I'd like one day to achieve having and SLR with Macro Lenses. But until then, I am very thankful my previous two phones, and now Vivaz, are able to give me results that can be as pleasing to the Viewer as so often are for me.
From Magda with appreciation.
Hello to My FRIENDS and VISITORS..
ReplyDeleteI'm utilising this venue to mention CINDY...
Cindy has 2 blogs...
http://bugsafari.blogspot.com/ and
http://mythingsnstuff.blogspot.com/ they interconnect as well.
Cindy began her "Bug Safari" way back in Sept 2004 and finally on 18 April 2011 Blogger made the site a "Blog of Note"... why they took so long is beyond my understanding... but as a saying goes... Better Late Than Never!
I have to smile... from a handful of Faithful Followers over all those years Cindy's Bugs are accumulating hundreds of awed Followers who are thoroughly enjoying and learning about Bugs. A passion Cindy has felt since a Child.
Cindy's connecting Blog is just as the Title suggests... 'bits n pieces' of all sorts of personal memorabilia.
Both are worth experiencing. And if Bugs are not your thing... Give some time to Cindy's Journey with Bugs... I'm certain your feelings will change to discovering Bugs are really wonderful.
Thank you, from Magda
I work with pictures all day in my profession, and it would be a pleasure if more of them were up to the standard of your photos; and with a mobile phone? I can tell you are proud of them, and so you should be, Magda. You have a good eye, and a charming, descriptive way with your words. Paul
ReplyDeletePaul, you honour me and my phone with your Words, thank you.
DeleteThe Bees of course helped, but supportive encouragement always feels good... and gosh, thank you for liking the way I write Words, that is really nice. I think Words fall out of me... learning they are worth reading is wonderful.
Appreciate immensely your input Paul, from Magda
Magda...i have to agree with the other comments up there...your phone is an amazing camera! well...it's of course NOT JUST the camera...but YOU! the pictures you've captured of these bees is extraordinary!! with their tiny legs sticking out to the side...or drinking from the pond...or butt up in the air...WOW!!! just so amazing! i think you have a magical way with ALL in nature...who else would be able to get that close to a gathering of bees??!!
ReplyDeletethanks so much Magda for sharing your bee adventure!! :]
Gosh Laura, I can't quite get over how belated I am being here to extend my thanks to your as always beautiful input... you give me such a boost... always leave after reading what you write in a bit of a daze... "am I really as lovely as how you cause me to feel?!" I ask my self... my answer is probably more than definitely not... but gosh, I know I do always feel special after reading your words Laura.
DeleteThank you so much for your gift... I love feeling so worthwhile.
And... I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my amazing journey with my resident Bees thanks to Vivaz, and yes Blogger.com too...
Hugs of love and friendship for you Laura, your Friend Magda xxx
Hello Magda, I have just spent the last few minutes in total awe of your photos. I too am blown away at the clarity of them - and from a phone too. Technology is wonderful isn't it!!
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, the fact that you could get so close to the bees is, in itself, an achievement. To have one pitter patter all over your hand to dry itself would have been such a treat (a unique experience).
It was a real delight to see this post - thank you :D)
Hello Susan,
DeleteAm so truly warmed seeing your beautiful Logo Gracing my Members, I've always loved seeing it when I Visited Laura, always felt Earthy to see, reminding me have I fulfilled my chores, or, I really need to if I haven't... very Grounding. Plus I always enjoyed reading your input to Laura... part of the reason inspiring me to Visit you... so pleased I did and do. I love the Homely Feeling I experience.
I feel honoured having your presence here for others to discover also. Thank you Susan.
Do so agree about today's technology... there is so much good about it... and the phones... well I too still am awed by what my Vivaz achieved.
That is a day I shall always treasure... being amid the Bees was an amazing experience, having such good results to share became perfection.
Thank you for your time with my beautiful Resident Bees... they've been away for this Winter, just didn't suit them here this year. But Spring is beginning... maybe they'll return.
Hugs, good wishes, and thanks Susan, from Magda
Hopefully you don't receive my responses again. Apologies if does happen. I've changed my Comment form to the Embedded version. I like the option to directly reply to someone who has left their input, feels more personal. Then me being me, is now working my way through my Posts to re-place my responses into the Reply section. So some copying, pasting and deleting is happening.
ReplyDeleteHi Magda, I love your photos of bees. They are amazing creatures and you did a great job photographing them. I am guessing it was a very hot day when you took the photos? Bees need a good source of water and they like it nice and clean too - so yours must have been just perfect for them. The grevillea leaves made a perfect place for them to rest. Also you must have not been afraid of the bees to have them happy to walk over your hands. Oh yes! I kept quite a few hives of bees a few years ago. I could pick them up in handfuls (when I needed to) as long as I was careful not to squash them!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and all your "crew"!
Oh Mick, you have no idea how relieved I was when I came here and saw your lovely long input after I'd left you a marathon one. Thank you.
DeleteI had re-read to be certain I'd remembered correctly when I did the photos. I do remember it was a very sunny day, and with being at the end of August in 2010, I'd say that the day was hottish, especially with the event happening mid-morning. And yes, it is the hotter months when Bees are more active. I hadn't given that concept much thought before, thanks for boosting my awareness.
I was a tad wary when I slowly moved in amongst them all, but overall I was more hoping they wouldn't go with me being there, but I hadn't considered that perspective before... they felt sufficiently comfortable with my presence to know it was safe for them to touch me.
Mmm, that feels nice to realise, increases the specialness of the memories I have of that day.
Thank you again.
Scooping Bees up in handfuls, oh gosh, now that's confidence. The familiarity that grew between them and you while you had hives would have been a wonderful experience.
Appreciate your visit and your input, and thanks for the good wishes.. gratefully received by me, and I'm sure the Critters are glad of them too.
My "crew" are the Critters who share their life with me and me, mine with them.
DeleteI chose the word Crew because I think of us as travelling the oceans of everyday life. Sometimes we're caught up in various forms of rough seas, other times we just sail along okay. Wherever we are is our Ship, with me the one responsible for our well-being, and then with my Crew we learn to adapt and hopefully steer our way around wisely.
Amazing details with a cell phone camera. Great series!
ReplyDeleteHello Indrani, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI was very fortunate with that cell phone, nearly always gave me surprisingly lovely results. It is passed it's ability with photos and just does phone work now.
I found with cell phones two years is about their maximum ability to give nice photos, by then also begin struggling with phone stuff. But with now asking Vivaz to just be a phone, it has settled quite comfortably and stopped having dramas.
Glad you liked the results. Vivaz was about a month old when it achieved those photos.
Great pictures - we used to have a bee hive in a local light pole - but it was removed! Boo.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Hello Stewart,
DeleteSad the hive was removed from the light-pole. The hive would have been interesting to observe.
I know spending time at the Tree they inhabited here was interesting. I quite miss them. They never stung even when the air was filled with their comings and goings, and I had to pass the Tree daily and do things in the area. Also the Tree is still standing strong, so I doubt they would have harmed the light-pole. Maybe some folk complained. Sad. But then maybe some folk in that area have bad reactions to stings from Bees and were scared. Whatever the reason, it is a loss for the area.
Interesting spot they had picked though with a street light on all night.
Glad you liked the photos, and thanks for visiting.
What incredible photos giving us an insight into a moment in a bee's life. what a shame the swarm has moved on.
ReplyDeleteHello Fun60, pleased to meet you, thanks for visiting.
DeleteOooh, that is so nice to read, and it was an incredible happening, I truly feel privileged, and so fortunate to have the photos to share. Truly pleased you've enjoyed them.
Yes, it is sad they've moved on I miss, them.