Bee honest…did you inspect this weekend?

[drdrday]

No inspections, but I couldn't resist sitting up by the bees and just watching them coming and going in the sunshine for a little while.
Quick peek through the clear crownboards, and a heft, but all still seem to be good for stores.
Of course we're getting to that most vulnerable point in the year now though, so I'll be hefting them again next weekend, although apparently it will be much cooler so I doubt I'll be that keen on spending too long sitting and watching them!

 

[Penninetrader]

No inspections, but I couldn't resist sitting up by the bees and just watching them coming and going in the sunshine for a little while.
Quick peek through the clear crownboards, and a heft, but all still seem to be good for stores.
Of course we're getting to that most vulnerable point in the year now though, so I'll be hefting them again next weekend, although apparently it will be much cooler so I doubt I'll be that keen on spending too long sitting and watching them!

I do the same as in watching them, I have my reasons beyond fascination and curiosity. By sitting amongst them at this time of year they become accustomed to my presence long before their numbers increase and become more defensive. You learn a great deal if you sit a while, today I watched a single bee on a landing board that stared outwards to the incoming bees, every now and then it challenged an incoming bee teeth bared it looked like, most of those challenged flew off. Clearly it was a guard bee and very effective it was to. And no I did not lift crown boards, I will do when we have the next warm days in a week or so.