What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Mabee]

Moved a couple of hives in the apiary, temp was a balmy 1ºC, the hive that recovered from CBPV this year, was incredibly heavy, and could hear the hum after moving them, so I'm pleased about that, they seem to have come out of it and built up strong for winter. Monday is set to be 12ºC here so hoping they will simply reorientate to the new spot and if not still survive long enough to work out they need to find another hive to relocate to without freezing in minutes. Have left some bamboo over the entrance to see if that helps.

Used my stethoscope to listen to them all, happy to hear them all humming away gently.

 

[user 20297]

Moved a couple of hives in the apiary, temp was a balmy 1ºC, the hive that recovered from CBPV this year, was incredibly heavy, and could hear the hum after moving them, so I'm pleased about that, they seem to have come out of it and built up strong for winter. Monday is set to be 12ºC here so hoping they will simply reorientate to the new spot and if not still survive long enough to work out they need to find another hive to relocate to without freezing in minutes. Have left some bamboo over the entrance to see if that helps.

Used my stethoscope to listen to them all, happy to hear them all humming away gently.

I'm pleased to hear that; same with my suspected CBPV hive that I moved this week. I've shifted three hives lately and one of them was just too heavy for me. It doesn't help that a hive is such an awkward shape. Only one of my hives hummed but all of them had the odd inquisitive bee pop out afterwards.

 

[Mabee]

I'm pleased to hear that; same with my suspected CBPV hive that I moved this week. I've shifted three hives lately and one of them was just too heavy for me. It doesn't help that a hive is such an awkward shape. Only one of my hives hummed but all of them had the odd inquisitive bee pop out afterwards.

Hopefully, our ex CBPV colonies will be strong and resilient having come through it, fingers

 

[Goran]

All heavy food these days ( meat, meat and more meat).. We have some initial talks since we done OA these days.. Next in line is making fondants.. Somehow we will schedule it in new year.. Prices on all went up, luckily most things I already got before..
Frost and scarce snow, it will be such till next weekend..
In meantime I am learning German ( it isn't hard, but somehow I am uncomfortable with it..), word which lighten things a bit this week is " krankenschwester" - nurse, but when I translate it - " sick sister"..

 

[E&MBees]

Hefted the hives and cut back the brambles with the brush cutter before the wet weather starts. A few bees peeked out to check, but too chilly for flying.

 

[Kaz]

Bees flying today at a meager 6 degrees, although the hives were in the sun so I guess it felt warmer. Looking forward to seeing a bit more of them over the next couple of days as the temperatures get milder

 

[Nannysbees]

Hefted the hives and put fondant on all four. Brushed a shed load of bees under one of the hives, hope that's just a clear out!!!!

 

[JamezF]

Frost appeared to have human footprints in it, which was concerning given this site is a private field.

It does look like human footprints, but I wonder if such an effect might also be caused by, say, foxes repeatedly walking in their own footprints? No idea, but I'm sure you know as well as I do that we tend to see familiar shapes where they don't really exist.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It does look like human footprints, but I wonder if such an effect might also be caused by, say, foxes repeatedly walking in their own footprints? No idea, but I'm sure you know as well as I do that we tend to see familiar shapes where they don't really exist.

James

look too close together to be human (unless they were out for a bracing mince in the fresh air) foxes do tend to walk leaving a single line of footprints in a linear patter so could be as they would be dragging their feet through the snow

 

[JamezF]

unless they were out for a bracing mince in the fresh air

So if it were someone checking out the hives on the quiet that would make them a mince spy?

James

 

[Wilco]

It does look like human footprints, but I wonder if such an effect might also be caused by, say, foxes repeatedly walking in their own footprints? No idea, but I'm sure you know as well as I do that we tend to see familiar shapes where they don't really exist.

James

Turns out the landowner might have walked his dog there. Those weren't the only set of prints and the spacing was not dissimilar to my own, and he's about the same size as me, so suspect that's it.

 

[Moobee]

Turns out the landowner might have walked his dog there. Those weren't the only set of prints and the spacing was not dissimilar to my own, and he's about the same size as me, so suspect that's it.

Phew!

 

[Antipodes]

Visiting an out apiary, my wife offered to open the gate. "Will I be ok in flip-flops?" she asked (modified language for the those in the USA and UK ).
Yeah, I say, too hastily. She walked right past this big black tiger snake (within just a few feet) and didn't notice it sunning itself on the roadside until heading back to the vehicle. One of the biggest we've seen.

 

[pevanstone]

So if it were someone checking out the hives on the quiet that would make them a mince spy?

James

That is quite clever

 

[gregior]

Bees able to get out for the first time in a couple of weeks,lots of cleansing flights and LOTS of dead removed (200 to 300 per hive) never seen this many dead removed before,something to worry about?

 

[JamezF]

That is quite clever

Flattery will get you everywhere

James

 

[user 20297]

Flattery will get you everywhere

James

......could be quite useful......from what I hear, not much else will do that at the moment.

 

[JamezF]

Whilst it's quite windy and showery today, it's become sufficiently warm in the last twenty-four hours to exercise my right to bare arms whilst I've been working outdoors quite close to one of my colonies, which, after over a week with no sign of life, is today a hive of activity. (Sorry! )

James

 

[madasafish]

Checked and fed mini nucs/nucs.
One - double Rainbow mini nucs - had lot of stores but bees dead of isolation starvation/ Insulated but exposed so too cold.. (-8/-9C at night 1-2C day for a week)
Rest looked ok.. one nuc looked questionable but maybe bees deep in combs Fed anyway.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Flattery will get you everywhere

James

Similar joke in a Christmas cracker I pulled with one of the grandchildren. They thought it was hilarious.