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.