What did you do in the Apiary today?

[pargyle]

I keep getting spasms, dropping stuff and breaking the kitchen tat that SWMBO buys

Sell the Westley and buy her a set of totally unbreakable kitchen tat ! (Some Westleys are the price of a small car these days - you should have some change !).

Today, a wood pigeon decided that it would see off the competition it saw reflected in the glass in the side door to my garage .. clearly did itself some terminal damage to leg, wing and the side of its head. I was going to stretch it's neck and was told it would be more humane to shoot it. I put it in a box and went to get the Weihrauch out to despatch it - couldn't find the pellets (which always live on our back bedroom window cill ready for any rats that discover the bird table - 'er indoors had put them somewhere safe in case the 'grandchildren found them'). As the gun is locked away I'm not sure what danger she though they might be .. exploding air gun pellets ?. Anyway, they could not be located in whatever 'safe place' they have been stored, so I then got it in the neck for killing the pigeon as I normally would have done anyway ! She declined the prospect of a couple of fat woodpigeon breasts ...and the garden fox has got an unexpected cheap meal ...

Our woodpidgeon flock is now one less to eat my grass seed, raspberries, loganberries and anything else they take a fancy to ... I'm thinking of installing a mirror somewhere to see if I can encourage a few more to commit suicide !

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Sell the Westley and buy her a set of totally unbreakable kitchen tat ! (Some Westleys are the price of a small car these days

it's been rebarelled, but it's one of the first Anson and Deeley boxlocks ever made so it will be in the auctions before much longer. Together with some other classics.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I was going to stretch it's neck and was told it would be more humane to shoot it.

 

[Moobee]

Sell the Westley and buy her a set of totally unbreakable kitchen tat ! (Some Westleys are the price of a small car these days - you should have some change !).

Today, a wood pigeon decided that it would see off the competition it saw reflected in the glass in the side door to my garage .. clearly did itself some terminal damage to leg, wing and the side of its head. I was going to stretch it's neck and was told it would be more humane to shoot it. I put it in a box and went to get the Weihrauch out to despatch it - couldn't find the pellets (which always live on our back bedroom window cill ready for any rats that discover the bird table - 'er indoors had put them somewhere safe in case the 'grandchildren found them'). As the gun is locked away I'm not sure what danger she though they might be .. exploding air gun pellets ?. Anyway, they could not be located in whatever 'safe place' they have been stored, so I then got it in the neck for killing the pigeon as I normally would have done anyway ! She declined the prospect of a couple of fat woodpigeon breasts ...and the garden fox has got an unexpected cheap meal ...

Our woodpidgeon flock is now one less to eat my grass seed, raspberries, loganberries and anything else they take a fancy to ... I'm thinking of installing a mirror somewhere to see if I can encourage a few more to commit suicide !

Now there’s a plan. Our garden fences & pergolas are a sea of spikes to stop them sh*tting everywhere

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Think there has been some fighting as dead bees in the grass in front.
Now there's furious cleaning. Don't think it's wasps. Only the odd one around.
Hive in almost the same position as another hive as they are shuffled along the stand, 3ft at a time.

Looking down the front of the hive.
View attachment DSCF20241013-01.MOV

 

[Moobee]

Think there has been some fighting as dead bees in the grass in front.
Now there's furious cleaning. Don't think it's wasps. Only the odd one around.
Hive in almost the same position as another hive as they are shuffled along the stand, 3ft at a time.

Looking down the front of the hive.
View attachment 41403

Not sure it is cleaning. Possibly evicting an intruder?

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Not sure it is cleaning. Possibly evicting an intruder?

Just wandered around to the hives and this colony is doing it again. The recipient of all the attention eventually dropped into the grass. Picked her up and she's not moving much but not black and shiney, and wings look OK. Tongue sticking out. Sick in some way, maybe we can't see. Or as you suggest an intruder.

Temperatures look good midweek. Might do last inspections this year.

 

[The Poot]

Just wandered around to the hives and this colony is doing it again. The recipient of all the attention eventually dropped into the grass. Picked her up and she's not moving much but not black and shiney, and wings look OK. Tongue sticking out. Sick in some way, maybe we can't see. Or as you suggest an intruder.

Temperatures look good midweek. Might do last inspections this year.

View attachment 41414

I’d go with over zealous guard bees and they don’t like the cut of her jib.

 

[Eyeman]

Big rise in hive weights over the past 10 days with all now upto winter weight. 2 colonies were fed 4L of syrup 10 days ago & put on 8kg in that period. A good ivy flow makes all the difference.

 

[Murox]

Fed all the hives and removed apivar strips. Saw one small wasp trying its luck . Nuc looked to be especially strong tucked in a poly box. All bees buzzing merrily in the afternoon sun.

 

[Penninetrader]

I keep getting spasms, dropping stuff and breaking the kitchen tat that SWMBO buys

Every cloud, the tat

 

[The Poot]

Removed the rapid feeders and hefted. Very pleased with the weight increase since I stopped feeding, considering the grotty weather.
Hardly any wasps about the hives now. Finally finished vaping after minimal drops from the seventh (!) treatment.
So, all five are Winter ready and I’ve plenty of fondant in store if it becomes necessary.

 

[Moobee]

18 degrees here today and bees are out like it’s spring! Still ivy around so at least they have some forage.

 

[beeker]

Dull day, but much brightened by a visit from the EHO. Thanks to research on this forum and advice, guidance from you guys here a 5 * rating. .
I am really small, and no intention to get much bigger, but it's needed should I ever wish to do a market, and not too onerous at all, and a nice thing to be able to show. Really nice lady, and seemed genuinely interested, rather than just box ticking, she's coming back in the spring to have a look into a hive too

 

[Erichalfbee]

Dull day, but much brightened by a visit from the EHO. Thanks to research on this forum and advice, guidance from you guys here a 5 * rating. .
I am really small, and no intention to get much bigger, but it's needed should I ever wish to do a market, and not too onerous at all, and a nice thing to be able to show. Really nice lady, and seemed genuinely interested, rather than just box ticking, she's coming back in the spring to have a look into a hive too
View attachment 41423View attachment 41424

Oh well done !

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

last day of vaping today, just the one apiary, unfortunately the rain has been hammering down here since the early hours but I managed to chose an hour when the rain had a slight pause and I only got a little damp.
Not so lucky later when a pallet of invert arrived, so I got a wee bit wet getting it all stowed away, this was a delivery which had been delayed over in Belgium and shouldn't have hit our shores until the 23rd and I was in no hurry to receive it as it's for next season's autumn feeding, but trying to catch it before prices (as they invariably do) rise again, but I had a nice surprise when the invoice came and due to the delay, although I'd missed out and was charged the 2025 price - the price has gone down!! which was nice............

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

Windy warm day in SE England and the air was full of bees flying out across the hives in the direction of the wind and seeming to have no trouble getting back against the wind.

Because some colonies still had nine frames of brood just a few weeks ago, I took the chance to have a peek in some hives at one apiary, then messaged to cancel a bike ride I had scheduled for the afternoon. I wanted to take more time and have a look in more of the hives. What I found was that all 25 have no eggs or larvae and only about half have some sealed brood. So I guess I'll do my winter (broodless) vape towards the end of THIS month. It doesn't seem that long since I finished my summer repeat vapes. But I know that a mop-up will be worthwhile.

This operation did nothing for the bees of course, but I hope didn't do them much harm. There were as calm in the hives as I've ever seen them. I was puzzled by the bees acting as if it was still July with full boxes of brood just a few weeks ago. Admittedly that was in the other apiary, and I'll have a peek in there soon. I have to collect info and experience where I can.

 

[mbc]

Just curious ... why would queen age have anything to do with influencing the Drone Eviction Committee ?

I would think the bigger the colony the more chance of drones being evicted .. more mouths to feed and more workers to assist with the evictionn orders ..

Cgf's is quite right, colonies with july + mated queens are far more likely to carry drones, some into the next season.

 

[mbc]

These girls are right in the middle of about an acre of horse but I didn’t see a single flower open! Beautiful pollen tho.

That's ivy pollen

 

[JamezF]

More vaping today. Still wearing my bee suit. Don't know why I bothered (wearing the suit) really, as at one point I realised there was a bee inside my veil. Choices being somewhat restricted when the head inside is covered by a respirator and goggles, she stung me on the ear. I slapped myself hard on the side of the head, everything went quiet and I went about my work. At the next apiary I could hear the buzzing of a trapped bee again, even before I got anywhere near the hives. I saw the bee in the seam of the veil, caught it and squished it from the outside.

When I finally got home I found two dead bees inside the veil

Clearly an alternative approach is required. Perhaps I need to carry a mirror to check my suit is done up properly

On the positive side, whilst my ear is a little warm and red, there's no pain and I don't look like the elephant man (any more than usual, anyhow).

James