Went to inspect and add supers to the hives I have at a local farm. The difference in how the colonies have built up compared with those I have at home is astonishing. They're absolutely rammed full of bees. They're not even two miles away, but 45m lower on a south-facing slope well-sheltered from the north and from the prevailing winds whereas mine are sheltered from pretty much nothing whatsoever.
One colony was a bit irritable and I had to walk about 100 yards away before they'd leave me alone after closing up the hive, but the chances of finding the queen to replace her at the moment are very slim so I'll have to deal with that another time. I can't smoke them through a QX because there's no space to do it. The others I'm quite tempted to make up some nucs from, though they'd have to come back here because there's no space for more hives at the site. There is a large conifer in the field I use for access and I'm tempted to speak to the owner about putting a bait hive on a platform strapped to the trunk.
I ran out of supers in the end (not completed enough frames yet -- a job for this evening), so I'll have to go back in the next couple of days to finish off.
I didn't get around to checking over the colony I have at home that I believe is queenless. That's the priority for tomorrow.
James
