What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Curly green finger's]

I don’t think that nuc in picture two will go anywhere any time soon!
Stunning scene, Curly.

Hopefully not, it’s been there through all the storms we’ve had.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Watched bees doing this

View attachment IMG_1462.mov

 

[Ely]

Watched bees doing this

View attachment 38911

Looks like they are grooming. Did they forget they are bees and not monkeys?

Perhaps it is the bananas they have been eating.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Watched bees doing this

View attachment 38911

Bees from a different colony

 

[Goran]

Today mixed weather.. Mostly sunny but with periods of unpleasant wind.. Bees out all over the place when was warm. Snowdrops, primroses, violets, dead nettle are blooming.. Even saw butterflies on couple odd dandelion flowers.. Bumble bees and violet carpenter bees also flying around.. Hazels are still dusting at large, our clothes are painted also yellow ( while pruning it transfers onto clothes).. Few more days of warmer and dry weather remain..

 

[pargyle]

Not a lot really ... it hissed down with rain this morning and then for a glorious hour or two the sun came out around lunchtime and I stood in the middle of my little apiary gloating as all 7 colonies (even the Nuc that I was starting to worry about) were flying like it was a summer's day ...Baskets full of yellow and brown pollen coming in (crocus and snowdrop or gorze - plenty about around me). Hellabores are in flower - not sure what colour pollen they have. Spring is just around the corner ... but I hefted them all just to be sure - bees more interested in getting out and about than me. Glad to see they have all come through (so far - I'm not complacent). Quite a few winter losses being talked about at our association meeting last week.

 

[Swarm]

Greyish white pollen with Hellebore.

 

[pargyle]

Greyish white pollen with Hellebore.

Thanks Steve - none that colour today - must be more value in Crocus and Snowdrops or Gorze then !

 

[Swarm]

I don't get any luck with Hellebores, they do flower but they never thrive and always look miserable.

 

[paul24]

moved my hives today, need to move them because of this birds.

 

[Erichalfbee]

moved my hives today, need to move them because of this birds.View attachment 38918

Do they make a big impact?
I suppose if there are lots, they do.
Beautiful birds, though

 

[Antipodes]

moved my hives today, need to move them because of this birds.View attachment 38918

Some sort of Rainbow Bee-eater?
Black locust tree?

 

[paul24]

Do they make a big impact?
I suppose if there are lots, they do.
Beautiful birds, though

yes they do.
They fly in families , each bird can eat at least 300 bees per day.
your full deep will become a nuc in just a couple of weeks if you dont move them.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

what do they taste like?

 

[Moobee]

Checked on the last surviving nuc in the garden apiary - the bees were busy bringing in yellow pollen and have nearly finished the fondant so added another tub full above the feeder hole. Bees very calm and inquisitive. Heading to the out apiary later.

 

[Macbear]

Do they make a big impact?
I suppose if there are lots, they do.
Beautiful birds, though

For a couple of years the twitchers have gone into a frenzy because a group of bee eaters nested in North Norfolk. Their site is about four miles from my apiary. My hope is that these "rarities" will decide that the Med is a better place.

 

[MrMouse]

Hefted and checked my hives today - one had completely filled a couple of empty fondant containers (had plenty in a week or two ago) with brace comb. Lots of pollen coming in and lots of flying bees. I assume I shouldn't read too much into the brace comb building in terms of space etc? Thanks

 

[pargyle]

Hefted and checked my hives today - one had completely filled a couple of empty fondant containers (had plenty in a week or two ago) with brace comb. Lots of pollen coming in and lots of flying bees. I assume I shouldn't read too much into the brace comb building in terms of space etc? Thanks

If they are building comb it's probably because they were looking for somewhere to store the fondant ..begs the question... did they need feeding ?

 

[gregior]

Had a look at mine today ( external only!) all flying very well for the first time this spring and bits of pollen going in 1 or 2. Took 37 into winter and so far they're all still alive and kicking. Starting to panic about how i'm going to manage once they start thinking about swarming in just around 8 weeks time which seems to be getting earlier every year. Off to knock some frames up.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Been on our rounds today moving nucs and usual stuff.
Some one took a few photos of me, im a bit peed of because I left my wheelys out side all night so I’ve been trudging around with wet feet since 8