Key indicators that there is a flow on

[JonnyPicklechin]

Just so us novices can be advised, what must the bee keeper observe in bee and colony activity to indicate there is a local nectar flow?

Any indicators on how tell it is a 'strong' flow? And when it has stopped such as with the so called June gap?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

[Jambo]

With the hive open, wet nectar that flies out of the frames on handling, excited waggle dances going on. Bees completely ignoring your presence as they're busy and the mature foragers which ping your veil at other times are all out foraging.

Without opening, bees flying in great numbers, almost returning to the hive in slow motion with their tails hanging right down (heavily loaded), most of them without pollen. Sometimes bees fanning and swapping nectar at the entrance also. Hive weights increasing when you heft them.

Later in the evening when flying has stopped you can still hear the hives 'roaring' as they fan the nectar.

 

[enrico]

It is like a motorway. Tens of bees every second heading in one direction and returning.
A super filling every week.
June gap if you have one......?bees just hanging around smoking and drinking!
E

 

[Murox]

Your intimate knowledge of the melliferous plants in range of your bees is very important as is favourable weather for them to collect nectar. Bees need and use a lot of nectar/energy to build comb so they need a source, a 'flow', and they only do that when they need it for brood or to store nectar. Some bees are very responsive to "flows" and can reduce /increase the amount of brood relatively quickly.

 

[Briarfield]

...
June gap if you have one......?bees just hanging around smoking and drinking!
E

And eating your (their) honey [emoji6]



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Millet]

Looking at the hive entrance tells me all i need to know..if it is a nice day and the bees are constantly in and out in large numbers that tells me there is a flow on even more so when the hives are surrounded by OSR and Borage around 200 yards away..

 

[Curly green fingers]

It is like a motorway. Tens of bees every second heading in one direction and returning.
A super filling every week.
June gap if you have one......?bees just hanging around smoking and drinking!
E

I like the discription , perhaps it should be the beekeeper smoking and drinking knowing there's a possibility that there's going to be some honey .

I'm going for hive smell !

 

[Beefriendly]

Just so us novices can be advised, what must the bee keeper observe in bee and colony activity to indicate there is a local nectar flow?

Any indicators on how tell it is a 'strong' flow? And when it has stopped such as with the so called June gap?

Dead easy.... if your supers are filling with honey there is a flow on...and if they aren't there isn't. In a strong flow a good hive of bees will draw, fill and cap a super of undrawn foundation in a week. Two of mine did that last week. I had just given them a super of un-drawn foundation, more for bee parking space than expecting it filled....with a couple of supers on top....went to clear the top 2 supers today and had to clear all three.....more bloody extracting

 

[JonnyPicklechin]

Thanks all. Very helpful answers all.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

[biglongdarren]

Hey millet, does any of that borage self seed, just starting to plant some round the house and lane here, thanks Darren