Pond life

[Bakerbee]

Recently got a large barrel pond for some lillies. I know bees need water but sat here during this heat wave in dorset and theres as much activity at the pond as there is at the hive entrance. Wonderful to watch them visit gather n leave. They must be on overdrive during this hot weather. Anyone else notice this?

 

[madasafish]

We have a small garden pond opposite our kitchen with lots of moss on walls of pond. Regular flows of bees but they seem to prefer local brackish water in field - with added cow dung to provide minerals.

 

[Millet]

There is three ponds in the garden all linked up with a water fall but the bees prefare the marsh near the hives, however the wasps and flies like the moss on the edge of the pond, and the frogs like the wasps and the flies, it is funny watching the frogs leaping through the air to catch them, so it is just aswell my bees don't bother with the ponds..

 

[enrico]

Put a clay pot full of water and moss in the sun and start counting. My pond is a regular watering hole.
E

 

[Anduril]

Got a few ponds at my out apiaries, there is always activity in this weather, a carpet of bees, one main reason there is a trace of algae in my honey.

 

[coffindodger]

Large pond and lots of buckets for the geese, but they prefer the neighbour's mop bucket

 

[Millet]

Large pond and lots of buckets for the geese, but they prefer the neighbour's mop bucket

 

[HoopersHouse]

Like the books tell you, I constructed a watering station consisting of a large bucket with rocks in it but I've never seen a bee in it.

Instead I see them lined up around the edge of our duck tub which is a bath sunk into the ground....they must prefer the flavour!

 

[Millet]

Like the books tell you, I constructed a watering station consisting of a large bucket with rocks in it but I've never seen a bee in it.

Instead I see them lined up around the edge of our duck tub which is a bath sunk into the ground....they must prefer the flavour!

Is it a light blue duck pond by any chance..

 

[Beefriendly]

My theory...for what it's worth is quite simple. Bees dance to communicate distance direction and use scent for final refrence point for sources of pollen/nectar/water, Water is odorless...so perhaps not surprising the successful dances for water are to "scented" sources such as..horse piss,chlorinated swimming pools, etc. It's possibly why they ignore unscented sources.
I've tried, and am currently trying again, chicken poultry feeder with moss. Not a single bee all day...we shall see what tomorrow brings...
I may eat my words yet..

 

[HoopersHouse]

Is it a light blue duck pond by any chance..

Nope, it's an actual white bath tub and the contents is usually more on the brownish side

 

[Millet]

Nope, it's an actual white bath tub and the contents is usually more on the brownish side

I mentioned Blue because my Lady friend has a big paddling pool, which is blue, the pool is not a problem it is the blue netting that goes over the top which is blue, it lays on the waters surface and the bees love it when it comes out of the shed.

 

[Bakerbee]

My barrel pond has only been there since end of may, it has no filtering system as i only wanted it for plants, it does have algae tho so perhaps its stinky enough for them. They do like the lillie pads to land on.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Is it a light blue duck pond by any chance..

Duck egg blue?