First Pollen of the Year

[DanBee]

And did you notice the cloned bee in the second image. Is this the first cloned bee - Dolly the Bee?

Uh oh - GM bees... Graphically Modified

 

[Cazza]

I have a nuc which was in full sun this afternoon and the bees were busy bringing in quite a lot of pollen - big baskets of some bright orange stuff and smaller amounts of greenish/grey pollen. Rest of colonies were in shade and sensibly staying put - air temp must be only just above freezing. I've put a thermometer out to check.

This is the first pollen I've seen being brought in this year.

I've been looking everyday since Rooftops posted and at last I've seen my first pollen of the year.

It was a paleish yellow from Mahonia shrubs - always a good winter source.

I also saw abee on some early snowdrops. As there are currently only seven flower heads in the middle of a large garden, it never ceases to amaze me how the bees manage to hone in on such a tiny source. Wow!
Cazza

 

[RoofTops]

Rooftops, interesting hive stand! Doesn't it push into the ground with the weight of a few full supers?

No, the legs are like Rugby posts but with two cross bars. They are pushed into the ground up to the first cross bar and can then sink no further. Levelling. if required, is done by putting bits of wood under the bar.