Startled beachgoers were joined by unwelcome visitors on Tuesday in Cape May when thousands of began swarming before settling on a towel hanging on the back of a chair.

The strange scene unfolded around 3 p.m. at Steger beach between Jackson and Perry streets when a group of bees began buzzing overhead, according to a witness and a video.

Thousands of bees settled on a towel hanging on he back of a beach chair on the sand in Cape May on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.Dean Bloemer

Within five minutes thousands of bees had clustered on the back of the chair, according to Dean Bloemer a retiree who lives in Cape May and was on the beach with several others. The bees werent aggressive, according to Bloemer, who wasnt sure if anyone got stung.

Bloemer quickly contacted Allen Brown, a local beekeeper, who collected the bees in a cardboard box within 15 minutes of arriving as lifeguards worked to keep people away. Bloemer said Brown told him the bees likely converged on the beach because they were following a queen that was there.

The bees were docile because they were already full of honey, Brown explained to Bloemer. The beekeeper planned to take the bees to empty hives.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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