Is everyone as far behind last year as I am? (AT LEAST 2 weeks)

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I thought my July 2014 HM Q had died, the entrance was so quiet, and the crownboard so cool under the insulation. So in I felt I had to go, second colony I have inspected this year, and some sealed brood, very few larvae but frame after frame of eggs. I can rule out a swarm, and just not sure what the cool crownboard is about. But this time last year I had just supered this colony on double brood, one week from Demareeing. It's not just this colony either; I have one (this Q's daugher) which is stronger but it is pretty typical. A neighbouring colony is on 5 frames of brood and I had to AS it this weekend last year. So I am AT LEAST 2 weeks behind last year, and probably more. Is this general, is it Heat Island, or is it me?

 

[Goodwood]

Yep.
I think I am about a month behind.
Cold and no blackthorn here.
Mixed picture of colonies...some ok but others tiny.
Losses of about a third this winter.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Yes, and ADD. Before anyone jumps on me for quibbling about 2 weeks, it probably is nearer a month. Saving me loads of time, is the good news...

 

[snelgrove]

shaping up to be nearly as bad as last year, unless we get some decent weather soon

 

[Chriszog]

What is an HM queen please?

 

[Fatbee]

Yes, same here, slowest build up since 2012.

Hoping once Blackthorn goes over will warm up.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes at least three weeks behind
Not looked in yet.
Dandelions are coming but so is endless wind and rain

What is an HM queen please?

Hivemaker....Exmoor bees

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

What is an HM queen please?

A Q supplied by Pete Little of Exmoor bees, aka Hivemaker. Buckfasts with a deservedly wonderful reputation on here.

 

[jeff33]

My 2 hives seem to be jammed packed with bees but the weather is so bad I don't want to risk doing anything drastic. No loss this winter and the 2 quuens are laying well. In fact I don't know if they even stopped with the warm winter. We seem to have found a fair bit of pollen and some nectar here on Gower. The sycamore start start waking up and so are the hedge rows.

 

[Tom Jay]

I'm amazed at the thread.
Tyneside here, and we've had plenty of foraging days already. Just my second full season so I have little experience, but my five hives are very active. Today that beautiful hum and scores of young bees dancing in the sun as well as foragers hauling in the pollen and nectar. Micro-climate issue? Or species? - I was given Caucasian and I have noticed they are happy to be out in cool damp weather.

 

[enrico]

They are slow building up but the flowers are all going to break at once which bodes well, the weather is also similar as the year when the lime was good so I am looking on the bright side! Glass half full and all that!
E

 

[MuswellMetro]

I thought my July 2014 HM Q had died, the entrance was so quiet, and the crownboard so cool under the insulation. So in I felt I had to go, second colony I have inspected this year, and some sealed brood, very few larvae but frame after frame of eggs. I can rule out a swarm, and just not sure what the cool crownboard is about. But this time last year I had just supered this colony on double brood, one week from Demareeing. It's not just this colony either; I have one (this Q's daugher) which is stronger but it is pretty typical. A neighbouring colony is on 5 frames of brood and I had to AS it this weekend last year. So I am AT LEAST 2 weeks behind last year, and probably more. Is this general, is it Heat Island, or is it me?

Same in Barnet/Mill Hill, last year first swarm call out was 7th April from Hendon, this year I have only seen two drones but saying that two or three hives are now on nine frames of brood

 

[For want of a better word]

They are slow building up but the flowers are all going to break at once which bodes well, the weather is also similar as the year when the lime was good so I am looking on the bright side! Glass half full and all that!
E

Fair~ well like it here too in the
GreatgreygreengreaseyTamarriverallsetaboutwithrichtorysecondhomesteadersfedupwithlivinginthesmoke!

50mph winds at the moment!!

Cornish native black bees fairing well... Buckfarts did not make it thru the winter and the NZ Italians are sulking and eating me out of house and fondant!
Must be much more Mediterranean like in the Smoke!

Too cold and inclement to inspect!!

Nos da

 

[BeeJayBee]

Too cold and inclement to inspect!!

Rain, hail, wind, and trees falling down again today.

 

[oliver90owner]

Beeks need to act on their local conditions. Mine are late, just as almost everyone elses. Nowt to do about it, apart from combining some to make strong foraging units. As I see it currently, the OSR could be over before the colonies are ready to take advantage. It all rather depends on the weather.

 

[Finman]

.
We have had very warm spring here. 5C to 10C. Not windy. Sun is shining. Willow will start to bloom within 2 weeks.

Migrating birds are just arriving from Britain.
.
Varroa had killed some hives. Only Queens remained with cupful of bees.
Snow just melted away from rape fields.

Normal shedule here.

Soil has Deep frost.

 

[Brigsy]

.

We have had very warm spring here. 5C to 10C. Not windy. Sun is shining. Willow will start to bloom within 2 weeks.



Migrating birds are just arriving from Britain.

.

Varroa had killed some hives. Only Queens remained with cupful of bees.

Snow just melted away from rape fields.



Normal shedule here.



Soil has Deep frost.

What sort of birds are arriving please?

 

[jeff33]

What sort of birds are arriving please?

European birds ahead of the EU referendum?

 

[Brigsy]

Haha

 

[Poly Hive]

Most likely micro climate.

Years ago I had a couple of hives on my fathers garden, and whilst not exactly exposed they were not as sheltered as his neighbours hives. The difference in flying between 100 yds was interesting to say the least.

It is truly dangerous bee wise to generalise from the particular.

PH