Do bees outside the hive fan Nasonov for returning queen?

[user 20297]

Mid afternoon, a couple of times this week, there's been a time when up to ten bees have been on the landing/alighting step of the hive, as an unusually large number of flying bees returned. Both times I have spotted a much larger bee touchdown very confidently and hustle into the hive. I'm assuming and hoping that this was the queen returning from a mating flight, since this is the dequeened, parent colony from a split. Today I got a better look and I'm nearly certain it was the queen; does this sound like typical behaviour?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes

 

[Moira]

I have also seen this behaviour and yes it is the returning queen. Sometimes it might be a short orientation flight for her but if she comes back with alot of bees then probably mating flight return.

 

[BugsInABox]

I've seen established hives fanning nasanov just during normal forager orientation too.

 

[Erichalfbee]

And after inspections

 

[Erichalfbee]

But if lots are doing it on the top bars when you open up they may be Q-