Warm enough in my sunny well-sheltered garden, so off with their roofs for a very quick check for stores, space and anything else I might have noticed.
All five were flying strongly. Four of the five are brooding well. The Dartington was ahead, as I expected, but one of the polynucs was steaming ahead and will need more space very shortly. A frame of comb added to the Dartington and a 14 x 12.
One polynuc was patchy and it looks like her maj may be needing to be changed. There was a supercedure cell in that colony in late September, but I have no idea of the outcome. Uniting with a colony in another six frame nuc box is on the cards for that one, so together they should make a very strong foraging force for the OSR.
Remarkably, all the colonies were well provisioned and none of the three full-hives will need any feeding before the OSR, almost for sure. Laying space may be an issue.
I will be considering over-wintering on less frames this coming winter. Insulated dividers at each end being the option, they being better than honey frames which remain untouched. We shall see how much excess there was, when the OSR flow starts. At least it is all proper honey and it will be handy for provisioning my nucs....
No queens seen, or even looked for. Not in long enough. Simply found the limits of the nest from the ends, assessed stores, added frames and closed up. Minimal interference being the name of the game.
Also checked out another five colonies earlier. All had bees flying and the quietest was taking in pollen, so at least not just being robbed out! No roofs off there. Simply observed them working busily.
Two of those colonies had been busy trying to remove the last of the thymol paper towels from last year's varroa treatment; one mouse guard was stuffed with shredded tissue.
Soon (a couple of weeks?) be time to be moving hives - before they become too heavy.
Regards, RAB
