Pollen identity

[stoneleighhouse]

Small amount of whitish pollen coming in today can't find anything on my colour charts
Any ideas ?

 

[Davelin]

The earliest whitish grey one I can see is Wood Anemone, but it's way too early for that.

 

[beeno]

The earliest whitish grey one I can see is Wood Anemone, but it's way too early for that.

Hi,
Had this question this time last year and itld suggested Butterbur and I winter flowering heathers.

 

[Swarm]

Hellebore?

 

[Terry G]

Quince?

 

[ellypatt]

I don't know how close they are to wood anemones in terms of flowering season, but yellow anemones are out here, along with crocus and hazel.

 

[pargyle]

Mine were bringing in very bright orange pollen today in some quantity ... there are snowdrops out around us so I assume that's what this is ... really heavy pollen baskets on some bees.

As for whitish pollen - could it be greyish ? ... Hazel catkins ? Lots in the hedgerows around here - not the bees favourite but anything better than nothing ?

 

[Tom Bick]

The bright orange pollen could have been the hazel

 

[pargyle]

The bright orange pollen could have been the hazel

Not according to my pollen chart ... but I'm open to correction,

 

[Tom Bick]

Yes I have seen that also but every time I have looked at the catkins and tapped them my fingers turn orange

 

[pargyle]

Yes I have seen that also but every time I have looked at the catkins and tapped them my fingers turn orange

Come to think of it ... when I was a kid at school we always collected the first catkins for display at school ... I always got to school with orange fingers ?

What's going on ?

Having said that, the colour on my pollen chart for snowdrops is bang on the colour my bees were bringing in ... so, who knows ? Just glad thy are flying and finding something to bring back !

 

[Tom Bick]

Perhaps something changes the colour from tree to the hive oxidisation or similar?

 

[WoodenBeam]

Small amount of whitish pollen coming in today can't find anything on my colour charts
Any ideas ?

First sight of bees in our garden on Sunday - collecting whitish pollen from a Daphne that is in flower. Lovely to see

 

[beeno]

Hi all,
First time I have managed to tap a Hazel catkin at the right moment and it gave off lots of green pollen. BBKA 'Foraging plants for bees throughout the year:
"January/February Hazel Pale, greenish yellow pollen Worked by bees for pollen only as no nectar secreted. Requires calm still weather for bees to work it. Small pollen loads as difficult to collect." I know what you mean about the orange colour from Hazel catkins, but I thought that was when the catkin had dried up.
Sadly, too windy here today for Hazel pollen which may explain why I have never seen my bees collect any!

 

[Tom Bick]

Thanks beeno for that and I actually went back and checked the pollen from the hazel close to me and I would say it is now closer to yellow??

 

[Roola]

Hi all,
First time I have managed to tap a Hazel catkin at the right moment and it gave off lots of green pollen. BBKA 'Foraging plants for bees throughout the year:
"January/February Hazel Pale, greenish yellow pollen Worked by bees for pollen only as no nectar secreted. Requires calm still weather for bees to work it. Small pollen loads as difficult to collect." I know what you mean about the orange colour from Hazel catkins, but I thought that was when the catkin had dried up.
Sadly, too windy here today for Hazel pollen which may explain why I have never seen my bees collect any!

yep mine have been pretty quiet the last few days too.

 

[enrico]

Pollen! Just to see a bee flying would be good! Five hives haven't flown since autumn! Still in there though! They must be dying for a bit of relief!
E

 

[Excession]

Me too Enrico... And I'm in Tropical Hampshire!!! I want to know where these pollen collecting bees are? It must be a totally different weather front...

 

[Excession]

Stoneliegh, your bees were bringing in pollen yesterday in 3 degrees?

 

[stoneleighhouse]

Well I guess its ok to be sceptical
but the bees are in Derbyshire and yes they have been flying and yes they have been bringing in a small amount of whitish pollen hence the original post