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Yes, I've also had 2 hives next to each other with very different honey. one much lighter and milder, the other darker and more intense. Will be interested to see what this year's is like!

The robbing has been from other bees, not wasps.

Fair enough. Not too many wasps about near apiary thankfully.

I'm keen to check that the hive is healthy, that there is brood etc and to see if any/how much damage has been done by robbers. The same kind of inspection I would do weekly during the summer.

I've been having some trouble with robbing which seems to be (hopefully) MOSTLY under control, but I'm worried about when best to do an inspection. I've not been into the hive for ages now. They've had their varroa treatments so I'd like to have a good look around before winter, especially with...

Failed on hive shutdown as forgot about ventilation rose in roof!!!! Thankfully I remembered before they all got stuck outside for the day. Now got sheet of clear perspex in front of each hive which does seem to be cutting down the number of bees gathering on the front of the hive. However...

Wet sheet did nothing other than trap a LOAD of bees under the sheet all over the hive. And it dried out too quickly given that my apiary isn't at the bottom of my garden. So, I've now put feed and water (soaked cotton wool pads in a tin lid) in the top of each and locked them down. Have...

I tried that but they weren't very conversational. A bit busy I think.

But the tussling is a concern too. Oh now I'm even more confused! Will check on them in a bit and see what's happening. How on earth are you supposed to observe which way their little legs are hanging when they're flying to show if they're empty or full of syrup?????? Thanks

Would clear perspex work instead of glass? I have a spare shed window (don't ask)

Nose Ma, so do you think perhaps this is what they are doing rather than being robbed? What made me think it was robbing was the fact that it was just after I'd fed them yesterday morning and there were so many bees spread all over the fronts of both hives. Also lots in the air and some...

I'm having robbing problems (or at least I think I am!) in both my hives. Think I may have triggered it myself by feeding early in the morning rather than in the evening as I would normally. Rookie mistake I won't make again that's for sure. Having checked around, I have reduced the entrance...

Judging by the amount of honey her mum helped produce, she ain't going anywhere ;o) Good calm bees too.

Retrieved empty fondant wrapper from hive and politely insisted bees inside it left! Other newer fondant mostly untouched. Bees were flying! Nice to see for a change. First warmish day in ages. *happy*

Saw my first crocuses today, but otherwise just trees round here at the mo. Few signs of life, but my bees are clearly finding something. Next door neighbour have 2 snowdrops :-)

Not much chance of seeing the bees on the willows. The trees are quite wide spread over quite an area of open land. Also fruit trees (various) and some gardens. It's an out apiary of sorts. Might spend some time hanging around the willows on a sunny day and see if any of them drop by! Watched...

What colour is willow pollen please? There are a lot of willows near my apiary and I'm wondering if that's what the ladies were bringing in today. I saw bright orangey-yellow pollen and also bright greeny-yellow.

Worcestershire :o)

Mine flying today. Sunny/cloudy and around 11 degrees. Fair bit of pollen going in which I was delighted about. Haven't seen any flowers in bloom around here yet so they clearly know something (or a lot) I don't!! Fed some more fondant just to be on the safe side as they were getting through it...

Thanks for that! Will check on wax crumbs tomorrow when I go check varroa drop. Have noticed yellowish 'dust' under hive etc which hopefully is wax, but will check properly. Keeping a close eye on them anyway.