What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Moobee]

I had planned to heft and check stores today but after a bright-ish start, it's mizzling again so will check tomorrow instead when it's supposed to be at least 15 degrees (!). At this rate, they'll be starting swarm preps soon

 

[elainemary]

Hefted hives at home, seemed ok though will properly weigh next week. All 3 hives were dragging out their dead. All have a nice large cluster and freely moving in their Wbcs, snug with their insulation on top.

One nice experience was I spotted the marked blue queen through the polycarbonate crownboard in one hive. Walking slowly across the top of the frames, moving her antennae vigorously, whilst her retinue enthusiastically crawled around her, passing on her pheromone. Watched her for a while before she eventually disappeared down a frame.

Spring in my step afterwards, made me smile.

 

[madasafish]

14C and sunny - which makes a change from weeks of rain and gray skies.
SO checked and fed my mini nucs- fine, my nucs - fine (to my surprise one I thought was on its way out as I could see no bees at all,, has lots of bees ) and hefted my full hives. (all fine).
Quite a few bees flying.
Nice but windy.

 

[victor meldrew]

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The temp is up at 12.5 degrees here in Cumbria today so I thought I’d have a wander down to the apiary and see what was happening. Lots of activity outside my biggest colony but the other three totally quiet. The other hives in the apiary (belonging to another beekeeper) also quiet apart from one.

Checked the fondant too. All four of my colonies got 2 kg at the start of December and it doesn’t look like they’ve taken much of it.

Took the varroa board out of the active colony and quite a few cappings on there. Gave it a clean and will check again in a few days...just out of interest.

14C and sunny - which makes a change from weeks of rain and gray skies.
SO checked and fed my mini nucs- fine, my nucs - fine (to my surprise one I thought was on its way out as I could see no bees at all,, has lots of bees ) and hefted my full hives. (all fine).
Quite a few bees flying.
Nice but windy.

the last day of the year and here’s an example of my hives activity. They are all alike . I can’t recall ever witnessing this on NewYears eve .

 

[The Poot]

Vaped the colonies, despite there not being a brood break yet....with a few bees flying and taking in pollen from mahonia I think.
Oh well, happy new year bees.

 

[Swarm]

Found every colony busy today, plenty of gorse going in and hives are still heavy with some nice sized clusters. Put some fondant on one small nuc, they were not really light but I couldn't help spoil the little black beauties.
Wouldn't say no to some fine weather to dry things up so I can get some work done, Spring is coming.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So much for the forecast of

skies should break readily during the morning with some decent sunny spells developing

went to treat the Tŷ Uchaf bees in dull mizzly weather this afternoon then after chatting to Fiona went to do the Gelli bees as they're on the same road. Started drizzling as soon as the first hives were set up, finished them all then decided to call it a day and leave the castle bees for another time. Same as the others - all hives hefting heavy.

 

[Sam G]

the last day of the year and here’s an example of my hives activity. They are all alike . I can’t recall ever witnessing this on NewYears eve .

I went out yesterday (NYE) and was greeted by 100s of bees too. The balmy 15c had got them all excited, I didn't have the heart to tell them it's forecast frost on Tuesday.

 

[Arfermo]

Too hot - just snoozed for 3 hours.

 

[SWHives]

14c out in numbers here too. Some carrying pollen.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the last day of the year and here’s an example of my hives activity. They are all alike . I can’t recall ever witnessing this on NewYears eve .

a good few years ago, Christmas day had SWMBO calling for me to check the bees as she was convinced we had a swarm in the garden - the bees were flying as if it was a summer's day (the same day we had a daffodil opening in the front garden) so not the fist time we've had a mild Christmas - and the bees survived fine

I went out yesterday (NYE) and was greeted by 100s of bees too. The balmy 15c had got them all excited, I didn't have the heart to tell them it's forecast frost on Tuesday.

not a bee moving here yesterday or today, in fact today is decidedly summery - mild but periods of torrential rain.

 

[Boston Bees]

Lots of activity outside my biggest colony but the other three totally quiet. The other hives in the apiary (belonging to another beekeeper) also quiet apart from one.

Hmmm ... I have a nasty feeling that 12.5C and no flying = dead or heading that way

 

[The Poot]

Checked varroa boards after 24 hours:
0 on one, 11 on the other.

The cluster sizes / debris fields are noticeably bigger than a couple of weeks ago. No brood break.

 

[gregior]

All hives v busy and plenty of pollen coming in. One or 2 were low on stores and a really strong nuc I was overwintering has starved ;-{ gutted!

 

[E&MBees]

Checked on the girls & wished them happy new year. All ok, they have found a source of pollen somewhere as some were well loaded. Added fondant as required. Roll on spring.

 

[Wilco]

All bees checked couple of nights agofor fondant levels, a few topped up. Yesterday when checking the rest of the animals it was ridiculously busy!

 

[Do224]

Hmmm ... I have a nasty feeling that 12.5C and no flying = dead or heading that way

Really? This is my first winter so I’ve no idea. Another beekeeper has an apiary next to mine and three of his four hives had no activity either.:.

The hives of mine with no activity are all very small colonies...each on about 6 frames and dummied down within their hives with insulation board. I read somewhere that smaller colonies tend to stay clustered more in winter as they need to preserve their heat more...could that not be the case here?

They’ve all got fondant to go at so I’m guessing all I can do is wait until Spring and see...?

 

[Swarm]

Really? This is my first winter so I’ve no idea. Another beekeeper has an apiary next to mine and three of his four hives had no activity either.:.

The hives of mine with no activity are all very small colonies...each on about 6 frames and dummied down within their hives with insulation board. I read somewhere that smaller colonies tend to stay clustered more in winter as they need to preserve their heat more...could that not be the case here?

They’ve all got fondant to go at so I’m guessing all I can do is wait until Spring and see...?

Colonies differ, I wouldn't worry too much. If they were treated in Autumn and have sufficient stores, they should be fine. Likewise, cluster size can vary as well, my friend reported some on ten but most around 6 - 7. That's quite normal for our bees.

 

[StephenT]

Used my new gas-vap for the first time to do all hives. Plan to do one of them a couple of times more as it was having quite a significant ‘natural drop‘ beforehand.

 

[Goran]

I am stunned.. Brood spread on 3 frames.. Yes, it is only palm size but stretched on 3 frames, already.. Some burned stores pretty bad.. Relative warm, I was working in orchard these days even in t-shirt.. Bees all over the " grass", yesterday started to open catkins, but not yet offering pollen - in a few days.. I have to put fondants, at least to ease my mind.. Seems bees are also confused.. If someone still says there are no climate changes, You can freely tell him that Goran told that he/she is *****..