I just went out to put some stuff in the compost pile, and there were a few to several dozen bees flying around it, looking for ways to get in (it’s one of those plastic thingies with a few openings). I don’t think I’ve put anything different than usual in there lately. I don’t know anything about bees, but I’m hoping maybe they have decided to take up residence. Any bee experts out there?
Bees can and do travel up to 3 miles or so from their hive to forage. If a colony swarms from somewhere to your property, there will be thousands of bees — between 20 and 50 thousand is not an unusual number. If it has been very dry, they could be looking for water.