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Interesting Goran but the thing is that they only feed within a maximum radius of about 500 metres from their nest site and the nest sites are very localised and specific so I can't see the problem. http://wildlifeinfrance.com/bee-eater-merops-apiaster-gu-pier-d-europe-in-france.html Chris

Why luckily? They are really nice birds with a lovely call and they really don't bother bees enough to worry. Chris

Chris

I think I may consider moving to Ireland, it's been winter here for weeks, ice cold winds, 5 or 6°C in the daytime if lucky and not a bee, wasp or virtually any other insect to be seen. Thousands of birds though. and they want to stop our WFA. Chris

Be afraid, be very, very afraid of the big bad mite and don't go down to the woods alone. Chris

Plenty of people do overwinter 6 frame Dadant rushettes here "in south west" France without extra feeding until early spring so number of frames isn't the be all and end all. I certainly wouldn't want to be considering fondant now and although it's too late and the time has passed I would have...

Errrr, could they have died elsewhere? Perhaps didn't even return? Chris

+1 Even with no new brood a full hive with stores can't die out completely in a couple of months unless there is poison or disease, not mites, mites aren't disease. A colony that goes Q- for whatever reason here in Sept / Oct will still have bees in April / May. Chris

Indeed you did but it was queried..... .....what's new? Chris

Nothing, nothing at all, nothing to do except clear over growing scrub, cut trees and let the other land users do their thing in the early morning mist. Chris

Not Asian Hornet - compare. Chris

They look like Cranes to me, the migrations follow different routes. A loose formation is typical of Cranes as is the constant "chatter" Chris

I counted migrating Cranes, far more interesting. So many yesterday they could be seen on the rain radar. http://champagne-ardenne.lpo.fr/grues/point_sur_la_migration.htm# Chris

I can say with certainty that feral and un-managed colonies can survive with continuous occupancy here in France with what one would expect to be a normal average "colony life" and failure rate. It's not really any different from how I keep my bees with minimal interference or manipulation and...

Asian Hornet Queens aren't much larger than workers / males but they will look markedly fresher at this time of year and if you kill every one you see now and in the spring you will be getting a large number of Queens. Chris

It's the only "wasp" still flying round here to any extent as well but it's not such a big deal with so few bees flying. Still good time to swat next years queens. Chris

Like being at school you mean? Seriously it does depend on where you are and the farmers requirements as to what happens to it. I have it growing here and there all over the fields and the honey bees still don't touch it. Chris

My bees won't touch it even when in full flower, I've turned down offers to put hives on it as has every other keeper in the area. Good for Clouded yellow butterflies though. Chris

The level of stores needed is in my perspective often overstated as different genetic strains of honey bee will have different colony population sizes and nutrition requirements. In my experience it is rare for an un-managed colony to starve apart from when there has been a catastrophic summer /...

More or less all gone here as well, just a few Hornets struggling on and a some lovely Queens floating around - beautiful. Chris