What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Luminos]

I think you can relax for some time yet, we're at least three weeks behind last year already.

Chris

Au contraire - cranes were flying over at EXACTLY this time last year

 

[Chris Luck]

I was referring to bee swarms and bee activity, although even the Cranes are later this year than last year, although they did start to move north and then they moved south again when the big freeze came.

http://champagne-ardenne.lpo.fr/grues/point_sur_la_migration_10_11.htm

Chris

 

[MJBee]

This picture was taken on 27th February 2009 - the cranes are pretty regular

 

[wondervet]

All five hives still in business but weather still not great up here -missed out on the mini-heatwave this week -never got above 12C. V few bees flying at all. One hive in most distant out apiary turned out to be completely blocked in by dead bees. However, most hives are still quite heavy -sure they gained weight between Oct-Jan and none been very interested in fondant yet.

 

[freethorpe bees]

Just checked my ladies. Hive weight seems heavier than last week when I hefted them. Stacks of bright orange pollen coming in. I really want to take the mouseguards off as some pollen is being knocked off but sure it is too early yet.

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

lots of activity about all 3. added some neopoll to two of them. tempted to dive in but will hold off for another couple of weeks

 

[grahambee]

Lots of bees flying with pollen today saw a drone flying from the other hive



http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa270/graham0070_3/?action=view&current=MVI_2663.mp4

Click on picture

videoed thraigh greenhouse

 

[Queens59]

Caught 3 bees...in my hair! Time to start carrying a comb in the pocket again! White, blue, yellow and bright orange pollen coming in...and all hives so active we can hear buzzing from 25 ft away...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Came back from the WBKA trainers conference this afternoon went to show off my hives to another member who was sharing a lift - all bees flying strongly and bringing in pollen the nuc (with reduced entrance) was in the full sun and bees were at the entrance frantically fanning Happy days!

 

[borderer]

Went to check on the association apiary today and was very surprised to see bees flying from two hives I had thought dead, having not seen any bees through the feed hole at the last two visits. At first I thought they were robbing, but I don't think robbers carry pollen into a hive. Things got even better when I came to my own apiary to find everybody working hard including the two nucs I am trying to overwinter. This is the first time I have tried to do this and both working strongly with pollen piling in.

Can't wait for a bit of sunshine

 

[psafloyd]

Yesterday there was reasonable activity and some yellow and orange (crocus?) pollen going in to all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df0DJAkvVCI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy5t00SbwNs

Today, as it was 18 degrees Celcius when I got to the plot after midday, they were going mad and it looked like a summer's day on my largest colony.

Took the mouse guards off as i forgot last time.

 

[The Cumbrian]

Today, as it was 18 degrees Celcius

Lucky you! Today's top temp here was 9C and the highest this year 12C

 

[Erichalfbee]

Well.
Drizzle most of the day.
It managed to get to 9˚ and not a bee

 

[dpearce4]

checked my out apairy today and have 1 hive very concerned about maybe 2 seams bees with a small patch of eggs and i with 1 seam of bees no eggs/brood think that ones a gona. will check it again next week and seal it up if a deadout.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

had 7.5 on the west but finished the bee shed for the teaching apriary

 

[Silly Bee]

I lifted a couple of slabs today near my hives, underneath were a lot of bees that had been eaten. They were among some wood lice.

Have the lice been tidying up the dead from the winter casualties, or have they fetched them out the hive?

 

[wondervet]

sounds like the kind of thing mice would do.

 

[The Cumbrian]

I lifted a couple of slabs today near my hives, underneath were a lot of bees that had been eaten. They were among some wood lice.

Have the lice been tidying up the dead from the winter casualties, or have they fetched them out the hive?

To the best of my knowledge Woodlice eat plant material and detritus of plant origin so it is unlikely to have been the Woodlice.

I would be more likely to think mouse or shrew.

 

[Silly Bee]

Mouse guards on, so I hope they have just been tidying from in front of the hives.

 

[TBRNoTB]

Lots of bees flying with pollen today saw a drone flying from the other hive



http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa270/graham0070_3/?action=view&current=MVI_2663.mp4

Click on picture

videoed thraigh greenhouse

Re: cat and blackbird? video...(why publish this?) is it any wonder that people think cats are the pits. would one be so sanguine if the cat was being ripped apart by a dog?