Late swarming season

[viridens]

With the exceptionally warm and dry spring weather I was expecting early swarms this year, then came the wet and windy.
Looking back at my brief notes of previous years, I estimate that the main swarming 'season' was actually a few weeks later than average here this year.
There were also fewer than usual, but I wonder if that could be because folks weren't out and about due to that poor May weather to notice swarms.

How was the season up and down country?

 

[Steve Dyer]

I collect many swarms and watch the map as the "swarm line" moves up the country - it's about Leeds at the moment. Last year the first swarm was March, whereas this year it was about late April. Whilst this year was late, I think that last year was exceptionally early so I'm not sure there is any trend here.

What I do know is that we need new verses for "a swarm in May is worth a load of hay" to cover March, April, August and September - any poets here?

Best

Steve

 

[MuswellMetro]

All my 2010 year queens produced Queen Cells from 7th April to 21st April . The 29th April is memorable to me, not because of kate Middleton but the first swarm i collect from an allotment in the 2011 season, other beekepers collected swarms from about the 14th

May was also a warm month so Bees continued to swarm all month, i thought it was all over when the weather changed but they still keep coming, the last swarm caught was 13th June ( gave that one back to the beekeeper)

so to me it has been very early and long season

why my 2010 produced queen cells so early ,well possible excess stores due to a cold winter meant they were all in cluster longer and did not eat themselves out of house and home ( well thats my theory)

 

[beeatshellards]

we had no call outs this year, at colchester beekeepers until the end of April too, not so many calls about honey bees but more of the other type,, bumbles, still receiving calls this week,about swarms even though the weather isnt great.

 

[Lance Hutchings]

Caught a swarm today <Bristol Area> so still going on here

 

[biggles]

First swarm down here was 13th April but nothing in the last few weeks. I though the season was early.

 

[Haughton Honey]

Caught a few at the end of April and during the first few days of May.....then nothing for about five weeks whilst the weather was most inclement.....then three in the last three days (two courtesy of a friendly pest controller)

 

[SixFooter]

What I do know is that we need new verses for "a swarm in May is worth a load of hay" to cover March, April, August and September - any poets here?

Best

Steve

August September & October are allready covered:

A swarm in August is worth a pint of sawdust
A swarm in september is something to remember
A swarm in October is seldom seen when sober

 

[MJBee]

Appreciate that the OP asked for UK info but for what it is worth down here in (at the moment) cool wet France the month of April was hot and hectic.

I had ASed 4 colonies by the 10th of April and had 2 more colonies beat me to it and swarm by the 12th. It was all over by the end of the month and I haven't had or heard of a swarm since. Crazy season.

The first AS now has 5 supers on it, 2 full and capped, 2 full being capped and 1 foundation being drawn - bonkers but nice.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I had a colony in a National, last years queen, swarm on 22nd April. Swarm hived in a 14 x 12 and the same lot went again yesterday. So that's the same queen twice.......It's in a poly 14 x 12 nuc till I organise another box. I should re-queen really shouldn't I ?

 

[Andre cardona]

her are this week swarms i love them
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[northernsoul]

Yes can I have my bees back please.

You'll know they're mine as the Queen has been marked blue!

 

[Andre cardona]

o ok

 

[tonybloke]

April 20th was the first call I got this year.