What did you do in the Apiary today?

[MJBee]

Deployed all my Asian hornet traps.

Not seen any wasps or hornets so far this year but hope to eliminate a few queens and nip a potential problem in the bud.

 

[Poggle]

Had a quick look at 8.30 this morning. All quiet. More dead outside both hives. Wind was getting up and was a bit chilly.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Deployed all my Asian hornet traps.

Are they traps for Asian hornets or hornet traps made in china?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Damp dark and miserable here, went to check the fondant on the hives, a little bit taken over the last fortnight but not much - bees out in force though.
Moved hive number two to final new position.

 

[MJBee]

Are they traps for Asian hornets or hornet traps made in china?

Some are made from Patak's tikka masala sauce jars with a hole in the lid - very attractive to the oriental hornet

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Some are made from Patak's tikka masala sauce jars with a hole in the lid - very attractive to the oriental hornet

nice to see a bit of recycling going on
Forgot to mention, this morning managed to get a bee up the sleeve of my jacket as I was passing the hives - Neighbours treated to a bit of impromptu Jar Jar binks/ dad dancing as I made my way back to the house.

 

[drstitson]

squeezed past 8 boxes from KBS sat in my office which together represent around 1m3 of foundation!

 

[george]

16 deg here . Just had a quick drive by at work and all bringing in pollen , 3 different colours . Good and busy .

 

[MandF]

Anyone else have drones flying? I saw quite a few when I had a look just now.

 

[george]

Possibly left over from last year . Colonies will allow drones to over winter , some more than others .
G

 

[drstitson]

temp approaching 15C apparently and so despite a couple of feet of snow on the ground still there's a steady stream of bees heading for the Loquat trees which have been blooming for 4 months at least.

 

[luckydunny]

16 degrees here and feels warm. Many bees out flying. Orange, yellow and white pollen being collected but mainly orange.

Put more fondant on one hive other has still not even touched original from Boxing day.

I had seen no bees from this hive since late November and feared the worse that it would not overwinter. Had to regularily fight urge to open the hive. Now very excited they have made it thus far and are out flying.

Tha advice given on this forum not to "fiddle" nor do unecessary inspections really helped.

Third hive, (different location) had fondant put on yesterday but then only 7 degrees and no flying.

 

[Tim1606]

17 degrees and looked at 10 colonies this lunch time.

Not a full inspection of course, just a quick look to see all was ok.

All bees flying well.

 

[madasafish]

Bright and sunny after 11am.
Inspected all hives and nucs for stores only.. One warre dead - expected. Rest thriving with ample stores and collecting pollen.

Saw some brood in one hive (carnies) - not a full inspection just a quick stores check.(there may be brood in others - did not look.)
Fed remaining warre hive.

Buckfast and AMM hives very busy, carnies less so.

Bees very good natured. No gloves, no stings.

 

[Headnavigator]

Mine have been soooo quiet, not a peep out of them though I've known from temperature checks that they were alive.
Now today they're out en masse, looking great, it's made me really happy to see them flying again.
Next decision - when to remove mouse guard, and have a quick scan for stores?

 

[nosmoking]

Bees out flying and bringing in pollen like Billyo. Lovely sight so fingers crossed that everything's okay inside. May put some pictures up later with video. One even pooped on me, is that lucky? lol. Happy days

 

[itma]

About 12.5C, clear, sunny.
Lots of bees flying.
At least two colours of pollen coming in. Heavy loads of orange stuff.

First quick look inside - as opposed to just looking through the clear crownboard.
Removed void-filling Kingspan block from behind the dummy board.
Started checking from the back (tray had showed most activity at the front) and stopped when no 2 frame was found to be almost full of completely untouched honey (or maybe capped syrup). Anyway, there's no need for more fondant (at the moment). Quick dust with icing sugar, and closed up, including the feeder hole!
Removed entrance reducer, checked for no pile-up of corpses, refilled entrance 'footbath' with Varroa-Gard powder, replaced reducer - I took the mouseguard off a little while ago.

Seemed pretty good, actually.

 

[garethavenell]

checked hive around 4pm today. Bees out, flying, and bring in bright yellow pollen. Hope the temp is OK on the weekend so I can open it up to give a better assessment.

 

[victor meldrew]

Plus 17c here all colonies flying well and bringing in pollen, Some more than others .
I see crocus but some loads are large and beige/grey?
VM
Also saw a bee trying to pick up a dropped pollen pellet (first time for everything )

 

[Erichalfbee]

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
11˚ drizzling all day
Not a single bee
The snowdrops are nearly over and no sign yet of the pussy willow