What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Cazza]

Watched bees working the pollen on winter flowering honeysuckle today.
The scent on these is lovely. Worth growing if you have room as I have. Scruffy and not much to look at if you don't.

cazza

 

[Erichalfbee]

You know I can never smell these. I have three in the garden. The Mahonia on the other hand nearly knocks me over.

 

[blackie]

checked to see if all alive and fondant ok all was well

 

[Tdod]

Checked the varroa drop after doing oxalic last weekend and one hive had about 300 on the board and the other hive had about 50, the hive with 50 on was the first seen in that hive had not seen a varroa when checking through the year and was unsure whether to treat or not, glad I did as they are there....

 

[Erichalfbee]

Glorious sunny day. 10º and no wind for a change. Bees out from the poly hives, fetching water.


Watched some of these tear through the apiary

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Teifiside hounds - not after foxes obviously , that one looks to have predominantly Welsh blood in him

 

[Erichalfbee]

Of course not but when I saw Mr fox I wished him well nevertheless

 

[Glenviewbee]

My local 'black bee' colony were out in numbers at about 10.20am this morning - the other colony (2m away) are more yellow/black in variety and obviously are a bit more choosy and waiting about an hour before they started to mill about. A lot of clearing out of bodies going on - and the yellow/black colony had some drones wandering around..... I do hope HM is not a drone layer
Temps up by the hives was about 12 deg, we just haven't has any cold snap to speak of down here.

 

[dpearce4]

Went and checked one site today to see if all is well, All hives had bees coming and going, five had pollen going in, in small quantities and the one I thought I had issues with didn't, so I popped the crown board off and had a look down between the frames, I couldn't see much activity so decided to take out a few frames just to double check. The only bees in there were obviously robbing it out as there was no bees, no brood or anything, just a couple of dead bees with DWV. I closed it up and then sealed it up, when I did the OA 2 weeks ago I didn't think it would be ok as it was so small, hope its the only one I lose this winter.

 

[theeggman]

Weather perfect today to OA. No rain or wind. One hive was flying before I started and were a bit 'pingy' the other 3 were asleep!

1: 5 seams of bees, 2012 Q and chalk brood last year, her days are numbered.
2; 9 seams, all seemed happy.
3: 7 seams, all seemed happy.
4: 8 seams, all seemed happy. July 2013 nuc built up well. Thanks Pete.

1;3;4; are light so shall be sorting fondant on Mon.

20 Mins after OA ALL hives flying like a spring day, they've cleaned out lots of old bodies, at least I hope they are old, and were onto the Hazel that's in flower.

Our Solar PV produced 6kw. today against an estimated 2kw. may make up for one day last week when it produced b*g*er all.

Tim

 

[beehive1234]

Went and checked one site today to see if all is well, All hives had bees coming and going, five had pollen going in, in small quantities and the one I thought I had issues with didn't, so I popped the crown board off and had a look down between the frames, I couldn't see much activity so decided to take out a few frames just to double check. The only bees in there were obviously robbing it out as there was no bees, no brood or anything, just a couple of dead bees with DWV. I closed it up and then sealed it up, when I did the OA 2 weeks ago I didn't think it would be ok as it was so small, hope its the only one I lose this winter.

Well they don't have varoa.

 

[dpearce4]

Well they don't have varoa.

so true

 

[Newtobees]

Oxalic acid done at last today hives all looking healthy and strong none in need of fondant yet all were full up with ivy in the autumn.

 

[einsteinagogo]

counted 326 mites on the sticky inspection board, which have dropped in 7 days after OA.

 

[Jimmys Mum]

I met up with the local council's tree officer to discuss our removing 4 giant leylandii from our garden. Hopefully we can get it done before the hives start any serious flying.

Should let loads of extra sunlight onto the hives.

No tapping or counting today

 

[VEG]

Why did you have to speak to the tree officer about leylandii?

 

[Jimmys Mum]

Why did you have to speak to the tree officer about leylandii?

They are in a Conservation area so we need permission for any tree work carried out. Its a right pain. Although that's not the main reason for today's visit. They are 10/15 metres from the side of some council owned maisonettes which back onto the end of our garden so they wanted to visit to assess the possible risk of heave to the council properties

The hives are some distance away in the middle of our garden which is over an acre but the trees are so tall, that especially at this time of year when the sun is so low in the sky, they cast shadow over a really big area. The council bloke doesn't think heave will be a problem but is going to check with another department. Worst case scenario is that we will have to take them down in a staged felling over 3 years. Well that's what we've been advised.

Going to replace them with holly, holm oak and hazel.

 

[VEG]

Just asking as I am a tree surgeon. The phased take down is nonsense though, as leylandii are a known nuisance. Especially if they are multi stem and have included bark they are a risk of damage. We now only fell them.

 

[Jimmys Mum]

Interesting. They said 1/3 down in the first year and then 50% of what's left in year 2 then complete removal in year 3. I did say that it sounded an expensive way of doing it!

Hopefully we'll just get the all clear to do the job in one go!

 

[VEG]

Is it on council land? If so complain that a phased take down is a waste of money.