What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Erichalfbee]

Well, what a day today, while at one apiary at noon I heard a big roar looked across the apiary to see bees swarming out of one hive. Such a lovely sight to see bees swirling in the air. I thought I'd try a bit of tanging, hive tool against the guard of my dadant smoker and they dropped to the ground which made it easy for me to collect. Old brood frames over the cow pat cluster and up and onto the frames they went. Travelled to my other apiary and what do I find. I'd left a space in the apiary where I shook out drone laying workers last week to put in place one of my other hives this week. Only someone else's bait hive in that spot, it consisted of a roof and empty nuc box and inside was a swarm of bees. Phoned the farmer who saw a blue BMW shoot off from the entrance last Friday, luckily he has the number plate, I took a photo of a Ford Focus today that parked outside the entrance after I had turned up. For all i know they may be totally unrelated and innocent. Their nuc box has now been removed and they will have to contact me if they want their decrepit nuc box back. There is only one beekeeper who has bees close by and he is an ex-policeman.

What a cheek!

 

[Anduril]

What a cheek!

I have informed Cardiff Beekeepers and have asked them to pass the info onto Bridgend Beekeepers.

 

[The Poot]

And I thought I was the only one. There was a tremendous Hawthorn flowering here (just finished) yet despite my determined efforts to see honey bees on it - none. Better foraging elsewhere.

But what would they be on? I think there’s been so much hawthorn they‘ve been spoiled for choice, the hives had a definite hawthorn niff, but my garden one has bloomed later than most others and has attracted nobody! I can’t think what they would be on - the village sycamores which were extremely popular last year appeared deserted too - because of hawthorn?

 

[alancooper]

Well, what a day today, while at one apiary at noon I heard a big roar looked across the apiary to see bees swarming out of one hive. Such a lovely sight to see bees swirling in the air. I thought I'd try a bit of tanging, hive tool against the guard of my dadant smoker and they dropped to the ground which made it easy for me to collect. Old brood frames over the cow pat cluster and up and onto the frames they went. Travelled to my other apiary and what do I find. I'd left a space in the apiary where I shook out drone laying workers last week to put in place one of my other hives this week. Only someone else's bait hive in that spot, it consisted of a roof and empty nuc box and inside was a swarm of bees. Phoned the farmer who saw a blue BMW shoot off from the entrance last Friday, luckily he has the number plate, I took a photo of a Ford Focus today that parked outside the entrance after I had turned up. For all i know they may be totally unrelated and innocent. Their nuc box has now been removed and they will have to contact me if they want their decrepit nuc box back. There is only one beekeeper who has bees close by and he is an ex-policeman.

What sort of magic is “tanging”?

 

[alancooper]

But what would they be on? I think there’s been so much hawthorn they‘ve been spoiled for choice, the hives had a definite hawthorn niff, but my garden one has bloomed later than most others and has attracted nobody! I can’t think what they would be on - the village sycamores which were extremely popular last year appeared deserted too - because of hawthorn?

My apiary is at low elevation (70m) in a hedged landscape - heavy calcareous drumlin clay. Holly, the last of the Sycamore and Horse chestnut were still flowering when Hawthorn was flowering. A few days ago Clover started to flower but there are no Brambles yet.

 

[Anduril]

What sort of magic is “tanging”?

Beating metal against metal, first time I've used the technique. If you see a swarm overhead start beating and the swarm drops down. I think it is supposed to emulate thunder.

 

[alancooper]

Beating metal against metal, first time I've used the technique. If you see a swarm overhead start beating and the swarm drops down. I think it is supposed to emulate thunder.

Well thanks for this. I have two bin lids that should do the jobs

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

 

[Curly green finger's]

Well thanks for this. I have two bin lids that should do the jobs

It’s an old beekeeping thing to do to make a swarm stay or land

 

[RJC]

Two more cast swarms today (5 so far - none of which have come from my hives) and honey extracting - no OSR by me, yet amount of honey similar to last year - must be hawthorn. Was cold here on Friday when I started, and honey took an age to filter though. This is the end product -literally as it was what was left in the extractor - hence with a few solids so obv for personal use!

 

[philipm]

Extracted all the sealed frames today which freed some space in my hives surprised how thick the honey was.Ordered a new extractor tonight as my old plastic one is showing its age and a nightmare to clean.

 

[E&MBees]

Extracted honey today. Very pleased so far. Measuring 16-17%, heaviest frame weighed in at 5lbs. Another super and I’ll have more honey than I harvested for the whole of 2022. Perhaps I’m getting to grips with beekeeping, 4 years this month. Couldn’t have done it without my mentor though!

 

[JamezF]

Extracted honey today. Very pleased so far. Measuring 16-17%, heaviest frame weighed in at 5lbs. Another super and I’ll have more honey than I harvested for the whole of 2022. Perhaps I’m getting to grips with beekeeping, 4 years this month. Couldn’t have done it without my mentor though!

After something like sixteen years, I don't think I've felt as though I've had less of a grip than this year

James

 

[E&MBees]

After something like sixteen years, I don't think I've felt as though I've had less of a grip than this year

James

It’s a temporary feeling, which I’m sure will revert to the usual panic and head scratching. But nice whilst it lasts!

 

[Jon.21]

Well the June gap (which lasted all of 3 days) is well and truly over here,good flow on from the bramble which is well in flower and the clover that's just coming out. All my virgins are well mated and the bees are incredibly calm-happy days!

I noticed a few days last week where the bees were quiet and even deciding to go on some flowers in garden which they don’t normally do. At the weekend though things have picked up again and noticed the bramble is just starting to flower.

 

[Lolly Bee]

Got stung four times by insanely angry hive. Last week the queen was in the BB with QE and in my hasty inspection before running home to tend to myself I noticed brood in the top (2nd) Super. Very puzzled. Now dreading going back. Am seriously considering wiping out the queen (wherever she is) and finding a nice queen from somewhere.

 

[Moobee]

Popped to the out apiary and a cast swarm I collected about 10 days ago, which came from a shed of feral bees, has a newly mated big orange queen laying well.

 

[gregior]

Got the kids in some £1 Simon the beek suits I picked up in the sale.

 

[Swarm]

Twenty four colonies checked today, full supers arranged at the top of the stacks ready for clearing. Ten nucs filling fast and four of them desperate for full hives. Last virgin introduced into a failed mating nuc has been released and the bees seem happy so I'll leave them a couple of weeks, fingers crossed.

 

[Goran]

In process of extraction.. Some weird season.. In couple decent days bees brought some honey.. What type of honey.. have no idea, since black locust failed greatly.. I will send sample for analysis so will see what smarter than me will say..
These days bramble started to open as " tree of heaven" also. I can smell the scent of it.. Well, of course we have again showers and scent can't be smelled..
If I live in UK, I would freak out of so much rain all the time. Here it is tearing my nerve beyond imagination..