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I can see lots of white varroa poo on the lips of some cells.

As Dani implied above, Nosema can only be diagnosed for definite by microscopy. It may cause dysentery with poo staining in or on the hive, but there are other causes too

Same problem here. Did a quick inspection as was sunny and 15C, and will be out of action for a few weeks. Queen seen but no eggs or brood. Bee numbers dwindling. Dummied them down and will see in time. My last remaining colony of the 3 I moved from Essex. They obviously don't like Devon...

Mine were well out of the way too, with trees between them and rest of site. Still had to go. It started with a chicken ban

Kept bees on allotment with written permission from council for 10 years. No problems. Then we get a new town clerk and bees and any other livestock had to go. No appeal.

I split my double broods as above. It puts some brood right under the QE, and I find is good swarm prevention. Not had any queen cells for last couple of years. No intention of doing my first inspection yet. Will swap boxes later according to what I find, hopefully putting a super on at same time.

Bay leaves are toxic for dogs. My dog had an overnight stay at the vets after eating just a few leaves. He was very poorly. I now clear up any pruning thoroughly, even though he snaffled the leaves on a walk

I found the list and dimensions of frames in the Thornes catalogue very handy in my early days

If it is good comb, just with stores in, why render it down? Drawn comb is a valuable asset to the bees. Get the bees to clean it up for you. Treat for wax moth and store it until needed.

Agree with all of the above. Surely adding a QE will only decrease the amount of space for the queen. I would just heft it. If lifted with 1 finger they might be getting light on stores ( added in case you are unfamiliar with how they feel when you heft)

Have taken over as apiary manager in my new home division in Devon. There was a tatty looking WBC which was to be chucked. However it is still perfectly sound so have taken it home and am painting it up. Undercoat on today and looking good. Hate working WBC's but think it will be a good advert...

You had a systemic reaction. The site of the sting is irrelevant. Totally agree with your GP. before further tests and possibly consultation with immunology, if you need to look at bees, make sure you are fully kitted, have taken an antihistamine, have your phone and a buddy with you, and...

@Amari It is a curse which most medics suffer from. People watching and then diagnosing anything abnormal. My old anatomy professor hated the term "abnormal " and whenever we showed him a bit of abnormal anatomy in the cadaver dissection would say " it is a normal variation". I agree, leg...

Yes my money is on nosema. Posted earlier about a colony of mine dwindling. Did a squash and looked under microscope and sure enough Nosema spores.

Sunny but cold. Went to heft my 2 remaining hives. One flying well, the other no activity. Slight buzz when I put ear to box. Looked through clear crown board. Handful of bees with queen at top of one frame. Decided to put them on top of the crown board of the strong hive, with their own...

I am even further south than the OP. Today it is sunny for once and I will be observing and hefting my hives for first time in a fortnight. I doubt I will open them for several more weeks, let alone move any frames about

Honey is too viscous for bees to suck it up. They always have to dilute it anyway, whatever they are intending to do with it

You can't have everything with maximum goals in the same year. Sometimes I aim for honey, others more bees and others more comb. It is usually a compromise.

I am away at the moment so I cannot check, but I think Ted Hooper has a specific chapter on honey granulation times from specific floral sources

I believe hydro power is used like a battery. Turbines only switched on at times of high electricity demand. When demand is low water can be pumped back up to recharge "the battery"