Temperature

[jenkinsbrynmair]

usually hear them in the valley towards the middle of April.also around the Usk reservoir - plenty of reed warblers in the margins

 

[bobandbec]

Opened up today(OSR site) to put pollen patties on, but only on top of frames not taking any frames out and done in about a minute.

The first inspection can be just for normal brood, room and stores achieved very quickly.

I do like to have the queen well marked asap and certainly before the rape flowers. They do get bad tempered then and it helps to be able to find her easily.

Once into normal inspections they are all done whatever the weather.

Peter

 

[For want of a better word]

Now that would be a blast from the past in these parts. I haven't heard a cuckoo for years except for cuckoo clocks
VM

Time for new batteries in the hearing aid?

Have not heard the sweet refrain from the nightingale down in the valleys below for a few years either !

 

[dclewis]

Here the saying is that the sound of the first cuckoo is the time to crack open last autumn's cider for the first time. After that an inspection is not recommended!

 

[Dishmop]

Must be Warmer Today.

 

[victor meldrew]

How long has the spare box been behind the left hand hive? I see it has a couple of frames in there and forest floor litter piled up against it .

Not a criticism , we all regard apiary tidiness by our own standards
VM

 

[Dishmop]

Well spotted sir.
Yes, it is an empty box but they are not frames or bits of frames. Just bits of wood as edges for under paving slabs.
Its only been there a couple of days. I have been moving the hives a slab at a time every week and as I move one way I sling the rubbish the other.

 

[victor meldrew]

Sounds like me
I also notice the corrugated cardboard, nice and dry so assumes some rearranging going on
VM

 

[Dishmop]

As stupid as it sounds I put the cardboard there so that when the bees find out its colder out than they thought and they miss the landing board, they dont fall in the damp cold grass, unable to summons enough energy to take off again.

 

[drstitson]

well spotted VM - i'm more concerned about the local pizzeria that is currently having to offer one less choice of toppings!!!!

 

[Dishmop]

Dont know what the temperature was overnight but has warmed up again today to about 10 c and have just been outside to see if they were bringing pollen in. Some, but not a lot.

Interestingly I noticed that 2 bees pressumed dead late yesterday afternoon and therefore out all night on the landing ramp, are in fact moving now that there is a little bit of sun on them.