Bird pecking at OMF

[Biddly]

I went to look at my two hives ( langstroths )this afternoon and as i neared one i saw a small bird under the hive, balanced on the ledge underneath the OMF pecking at the OMF. I put a board on the floor and laid down and peered at the OMF, there was a build up of alot ofdead bees directly under the cluster in the middle but the edges were clear and the mouseguard at the front is not blocked. Should i use an extendend coat hanger or the like to sweep the dead bees out ? Only the odd bee or two has been flying this week ( as expected in this weather ) and we are due possibly heavy snow this evening/tomorrow so the girls will not be attempting to clear the dead ones away. The other hives OMF was completely clear and i could see the cluster.Thank you for your help.This is my first winter with bees so a learning curve.

 

[For want of a better word]

What kind of bird?

A few dead bees outside the out apiary WBCs yesterday a blackbird sized bird with reddish flanks.. ?? a red start? redwing?.. was hopping in and taking them!
wary of me!
Very much open coastal farmland in a shelterd inland spot about 158m above sealevel according to GPS

 

[Biddly]

It was either a sparrow or a dunnock, it flew out from underneath as I got close.

 

[Bee-Key-Pur]

Tits, you have to love those tits, they do more than you think could be possible...

Brian

 

[MuswellMetro]

Tits, you have to love those tits, they do more than you think could be possible...

Brian

think this confirms the thread on omf and bee bit under the hive is problalbly due to birds, maybe it is caused by the snow this year, or perhaps a learnt behaviour

i have wagtails doing it on one of my hives, making quite a noise as they sit under the hive then fly up to the omf

Tits, you have to love those tits, they do more than you think could be possible...

Brian

yes and i love them as well

 

[psafloyd]

Tits, you have to love those tits, they do more than you think could be possible...

Brian

I've always loved tits. YOu've just got to admire them, haven't you?

 

[abb]

i hope you are talking about the feathery one's

 

[thurrock bees]

the bird will be only having a free lunch, it will save the bees a job of taking the dead ones out.

 

[peteinwilts]

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8063

must be a north wiltshire thing!

 

[blackbrood]

Tits, you have to love those tits, they do more than you think could be possible...

Brian

amen. I love birds.

 

[Poly Hive]

Can't find the pic sadly but on Lindisfarne Island there was a nesting box on the side of a cottage clearly labelled:

Bra Cottage, Tits only!



PH

 

[harveyzone]

There is a photo of it over here (not mine).

That is a google search that you don't want to do whilst at work.

 

[buzzin]

Tits, you have to love those tits, they do more than you think could be possible...

Brian

They have kept mankind fascinated for millennia!
Regards
buzzin

 

[For want of a better word]

I wonder if I am normal...
I love to watch the Long Tailed Tits...
but my baby son seems to have a distinct preferance for the Great Tits

 

[Hivemaker.]

I wonder if I am normal...


You said it......got any pictures,they may be useful to form a diagnosis.

 

[buzzin]

I wonder if I am normal...
I love to watch the Long Tailed Tits...
but my baby son seems to have a distinct preferance for the Great Tits

You will soon revert to the originals. If I can remember that far back.......
Regards