Apichat

29th July, After a hectic few weeks, finally things in the apiary more or less under control!

Swarming was slow to start at the end of June but continued well into July. This was complicated by the fact we were feeding syrup during the cold weather when the colonies had used up what honey they had produced, filling brood space up with syrup instead of producing brood. There were many swarms to deal with, a couple from our own colonies but most from unknown origins. Quite a few had no queens, or no laying queens with them, and trying to get those queened proved more than a challenge. Similarly, our colonies that had swarmed, did not successfully re-queen even with donor frames added. Other colleagues have reported other unusual swarming activity, catching swarms that stayed in the box long enough to consume all the syrup provided before absconding.

Normal looking hatched and unhatched queen cells were evident but no sign of laying queens. This was a concern. Sample sealed queen cells were sent to SASA for analysis and thankfully there were no abnormalities. However they did pass on that, during a recent meeting, bee inspectors reported they had seen widespread issues this year with queens failing to mate, mating poorly, or not returning from their mating flights, along with very late swarming. Our experience was just that, and has meant a lot of running around right through June and July trying to ensure queen-right colonies.

The local farmer at one of our out apiaries mentioned the noticeable lack of fly activity around, especially while he was moving a large midden from the Steading out to a field. He thought the prolonged cold weather had a lot to do with it and he was probably right. Lack of fly life means that birds in particular would have to find alternative food sources when their normally abundant supply didn't materialise. A virgin queen out on a mating flight would be pretty conspicuous and would make an easy target. I've watched young sparrows sit near the entrance of the garden hive and pick off the odd returning bee. Not their normal diet, but there they were. Perhaps this may account for some of the missing queen problems.

The heather is coming into bloom on the hills, two strong colonies were taken up. Fingers crossed for some favourable weather.

27th June, it's been a busy couple of weeks, carrying out swarm control, making splits, collecting swarms and checking how well the colonies did this spring, and not that well at all is the quick answer to the last point!

The colonies in the garden apiaries faired better than the out apiaries which have yet to really get going. From four overwintered successfully in an out apiary, only two remain and they are not performing as well as we hoped. Around the town and village there was plenty forage early on for the bees and some honey was produced, but it came to a halt as the June weather became unsettled, temperatures dropping overnight to low single figures. The home bees quickly consumed a fair amount of their labours while up at the out apiary, which is 100m higher and more exposed, the bees simply ignored the large areas of gorse and broom in full flower on their doorstep, and as yet have failed to build up numbers as expected.

The swarm traps worked their magic and caught swarms have since been transferred to hives with drawn comb and plenty syrup to keep them busy. Not every attempt at taking a swarm was successful. One large swarm that had flown into a neighbours garden settled on a small stump a couple of feet off the ground. It had been there for three days before we went in to take it. Easy job, prepared a polynuc and placed it below the cluster, one good thump on the stump and they all fell into the box. A quick inspection to make sure there were no clumps left on the stump, removing the small section of comb they had built and placing it in the box, then we left the polynuc with bees and syrup in situ to be closed up in the evening. By evening they had all retuned to the stump! The following day before we could get ourselves into action they took off, then resettled, then took off again disappearing into the blue yonder. Colleagues have reported similar experiences this spring, catching swarms, feeding them well only to see them fly off again in a couple of days, some leaving freshly laid eggs behind. Strange times indeed!

May 27th, overcast, 14C, but the break in the persistent inclement weather we've been having offered a chance for a swift and timely round of the apiaries.

Garden colonies were all performing well, producing honey, and not showing signs of swarming yet. However in one very strong colony the queen had managed to get up into the supers (beekeeper's carelessness!) and had chimneyed up the centre of the three supers with eggs and brood. Despite extensive searching she wasn't to be found so no alternative but to remove the excluder and let her find her own way back down.

Out colonies were not nearly as far on as the garden's. Their much higher elevation brings a harsher climate. Much less in the way of brood and honey production, even though they are immediately surrounded by gorse, broom, willows and Mays in full bloom, and no sign of swarming. Their time will come later as the weather improves, with any luck.

Being mindful of last seasons dreadful weather and it's affect on mating virgin queens, only one nuc was prepared from one of the stronger colonies. We'll see how this goes before doing any more.

8th May, temperatures up into double figures and holding at last! With better weather the colonies were all very busy bringing in nectar and pollen of many colours. They are generally in good humour at this time of the year and tolerate a full inspection without becoming defensive, which is ideal when you need to carry out a full examination of every frame in the brood chamber. Any that are readily defensive at this time are telling you that something needs attention.

We carried out the first full inspections this week and all but one were remarkably well on with brood across 9 frames in couple of hives, which goes to show that even in all that very poor weather and low temperatures they were getting on with it. Brood nests were carefully examined and queens were marked. As with previous years we replaced two or three frames in each with fresh foundation, which ensures complete replacement every three years. Old frames are kept for swarm traps unless they are beyond use. Donor frames were taken to boost the colony that was not performing as well as the rest.

Ekes and fondant feeders were removed, mesh floors cleared of debris, varroa boards cleaned, then three prepared supers put on each. All colonies are now queenright, have stores of honey and pollen, and space to build up. A final check on the structural integrity of each hive and we were done.

There were no signs of queen cells at this inspection but drones were observed in most colonies which confirms the swarm season has started. That changes the frequency of our inspections to weekly for the time being. Happy days!

29th April, 10C, sunny intervals, gusty winds. We've experienced more up and down weather over the last weeks often keeping the bees inside. When the sun did come out so did the bees, and they worked furiously, bringing in a range of different pollens and some nectar. Today the weather was good enough for a quick check round the apiaries.

The garden hives all had comb built in the ekes, some with a little drone drone brood present. Fondant in the feeders had been mostly used up. A quick look at an end frame revealed fresh uncapped honey, and by carefully prizing the centre frames apart slabs of brood were evident. They had been busy. Feeders topped up.

Out apiary colonies had no comb in the ekes and the feeders were empty. These being at a higher altitude and more exposed were not as advanced as the home apiaries and looked a couple of weeks behind. Feeders topped up.

Going through the colonies thoroughly, marking queens, changing old frames, adding supers and rapid feeders etc would have been on the cards in a normal year, but the weather is too variable yet. These tasks will be carried out the next few days as the better weather forecasted permits (fingers crossed!).

23rd March, 7C sunny spells, no rain. Last couple of weeks have been mostly cold and driech, but when sun has come out so have the bees, bringing various colours of pollen from the flowers, trees and shrubs that have come into flower. The gorse is in full bloom around the out apiary but haven't seen any honeybees on it.

Taking advantage of the break in the weather to check stores revealed a few of the feeders that needed topping up were showing signs of comb building inside. This is a good sign that the bees are making storage space, and that the supers will be going on soon. Sugar syrup and prepared supers at the ready!

5th March, it's 9C and sunny but wind chill makes it feel positively chilly. Days are tangibly longer and the light quality much improved. The bees have noticed the change and are out as soon as the sun shines but back in just as fast when it clouds over. March - the spring danger zone! Beware of stores running out, and of isolation starvation.

Night temperatures have remained low and frequently sub-zero, with frosty mornings, but haven't deterred the spring flowers. Crocuses and snowdrops are in full flower and the daffodils are showing. All hives busy today with orange, yellow, cream, grey, and light brown pollen laden bees returning. They are coming out to forage more frequently now, plenty pollen to be had but nectar is still scarce, As the colony awakens to spring the increased activity means more stores are consumed but are not replenished at the same rate. No surprise that all hives required fondant feeders topping up.

Still too cold for nest examinations yet, and are not necessary at this point. Inspections continue to be external only, activity viewed through the glass quilts and at the hive entrances. Varroa board debris indicates rough estimations of brood production. This tells you all you need to know!



Healthy activity at the hive entrances with various colours of pollen going in.

First bumblebee of the season seen on the crocuses today, always a good sign, but March is the spring danger point where stores consumption can outweigh replenishment leading to starvation. Colonies that were not up to par before winter may have dwindled in numbers to the point that they won't be able to get going and may simply die out.

Bees are starting to show interest in the Vitafeed Pollen Patty put in the ekes three weeks ago.

16th Feb. Full sun and 12 degrees brought the bees out in numbers today, and they were were bringing in a steady flow of pollen for the first time this year. It's a great sign and confirms the queen last seen in the autumn is still there and is stirring in to action. It heralds the arrival of spring (along with the blackbird that started his 5.00am singing at the top of the Larch two mornings ago!), better get prepared!



Not huge amounts, but a steady flow of orange from crocus and/or ivy, and a creamy coloured pollen whose origin I'm never sure about. They worked on for most of the day! Tricky to get a good photo as they were mostly flying straight in, not hanging about., no time for posing!

Wonderful news yesterday that good friend and seasoned beekeeper Tom McGravie received a most unexpected Honorary Lifetime Membership for the Edinburgh and Midlothian Beekeepers Association for his 'services to beekeeping, with all rights, honours, and privileges thereto appertaining'. Tom, who was a long standing member and past President of EMBA, is also a past East of Scotland Area Representative for the SBA, and was SBA librarian looking after the Moir Library for many years until it was handed over to the rare books collection in the National Library. He remains one of Scotland's most experienced apiarists having kept bees for over 53 years (there's nowt he doesn't know about beekeeping!), and his contribution to Scottish Beekeeping and in promoting best beekeeping practice over those years is immeasurable.



Well deserved Tom!

Iain

Fog rolled in last night leading to a cold and damp 5C start this morning after weeks of wild windy weather, ice and and snow, but the wind has finally calmed enough for a quick check around the apiaries.

The bees were up but haven't used much feed in last three nearly four weeks. Topped up the fondant, supplemented that with honey comb laid on top of exposed frames in the garden hives. The bees were on it instantly, just goes to show there's nothing like the real thing!

Usually put Nektapoll on the frames with the fondant feeders at this point to give the bees a boost as the spring arrives but supplies haven't resumed since Brexit, so trying out Vitafeed Pollen Patty this year.

Early spring flowers are showing all around now, snowdrops, crocuses, hellebores, mahonia, and gorse, all have pollen available and if the sun comes out the bees will find it.