Bee Draggled
On my finger. Looking strong and healthy after her swim. She pays particular attention to the condition of her tongue.
*Click on the pictures for a proper look … and click again.
Drying, preening and cleaning can take quite a while. The minutes pass as I sit watching while she resumes full fitness.
A nice warm stone to dry out on in the sun. Placed for the shooting angle with blue sky as background, helps …
She looks fierce, but only to the eye expecting ‘something else’. Imagination. Nature is supremely practical.
They’ll always climb to higher ground if they are well enough. All the better to take off from, when the time comes.
It has been said yoga, a practise of physical exercises with a spiritual dimension (attention to sensation) was developed by observing nature’s creatures about their business.
They have an exercise for every occasion, every body part gets its turn, no exceptions.
A number of honey bees were rescued from the cold water recently. Too many to show them all, or even a representative sample of images.
If I get to them early enough they recover quickly and seem to suffer no ill effects. They just take the time to recover, given the space for preening and cleaning, then take to the air, do a short circuit above and find a direction to fly in.
Home, I suspect. Back from whence they come. To rejoin the hive they serve. One body’s life having little more significance than that, except it is itself unique and integral to the whole.
Not insignificant …
© Mark Berkery ……. Click on those pictures for a closer look
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Nature's Place 
Nice one
TYTJ
There’s something about insects that really puts humans in perspective, isn’t there? Your photos are always wonderful, your words always thoughtful and insightful. Thank you for sharing Mark.
We are of the same nature, we are animals just like them. The biggest difference is we have self reflection, can think and get emotional, and make problems on earth with it. The insects and other natural creatures don’t do that.
Thanks Dee.
Wonderful pictures of this beauty, especially the colourful ones, where the details become more visible. I am glad she has recovered on your finger. Always nice how comfortable they feel there. Gone with the wind I suppose :-)
Yes, the contrast is better with the blue background. They are a little pleasure, gone …
Thanks Almuth.
Totally random thought, but the first thing I thought of when I saw the first photo was that the bee is making silly faces at the camera with her tongue out.
We do tend to anthropomorphize. But the fact is she is tending her most precious asset, without which she would perish within a day. All the natural creatures can be observed doing this self maintenance, preening and cleaning.
Lovely!
Indeed …
many bees live solo…
Yes, many do. Not these though. And everything serves what’s higher, and lower …
Great pic’s!
Thanks Mike.
Beautiful, Mark! I’m glad for the rescue, and for your exquisite documentation.
Thanks Cate.
Don’t know what I’d do without them. Something else no doubt.
As usual excellent photos in all aspects.
Thanks David.
What joy to look so deeply… nature is truly a humbling and beautful experience …thankyou
Thanks Therese. Fascinating nature, endless reflections of self without problems.
These are great, nice work!
Thanks Patrick.