Nosema

I have been doing a lot of thinking this winter about my colonies (steam coming out of ears at times!). One line of thought is Nosema (maybe a real underlying threat): Now I could treat prophylactically BUT...!
Is it something (ELSE) to worry about? Is the research being done to address it? Who knows?
Needs some investigating, maybe a case for "Dr. Bob"!
Then there's the training and BBKA but we won't go there! YET!!

Raw!

As I checked all my colonies this morning it felt quite "raw", especially on the exposed sites. However the "ladies" all seem okay and some were "chomping" away (sorry should that be salivating and sucking) at their fondant- Indeed I had to put more on some!
As February approaches the active season is getting nearer (exciting!) but we still have to be cautious/wary.

A SWARM OF BEES IN JANUARY!

Swallow Hayes

I visited this lovely 2 acre garden today with my wife and had a stroll around sniffing on the National Collection of Witch Hazel planted there. The red,orange and yellow "flowers" were nice to see and I find the smells wonderful. To cap the visit, tucked away I found 2 WBC hives and was pleased to hear that both were okay. Thank you to our host Pat Edwards.

WHAT IS THE BBKA DOING??

I don't know!!

13 degrees!

It has been a dull, damp day.
But checking at one of my sites the temperature read 13 degrees and ALL the hive entrances were busy with activity. So pleasing to see despite its functional nature (cleansing flights)! I went home and there too all the hives were active: I honestly could have spent all day watching (but don't tell the missus),

Milder weather

I have been outside this afternoon in my garden, building hive parts that I bought from my trip to Thornes' new place last November. It was good to start this after all the cold weather. I did pop down the garden (a few times) to see if any bees were flying and about 2pm some of the little darlings emerged "to do their business" excuse the pun! But by 3.30pm they were all back indoors.

Oxalic Treatment/ Predator

With the temperature just above freezing this morning my colleague and friend Martin, and I set out and treated all our colonies (except 4 of mine) with Oxalic solution; part of our IPM against varroa. It was great to get out and do some beekeeping, and also to see all our colonies alive and well. Some colonies were tightly clustered and some low down in their boxes, others were chomping away at their fondant as we "cracked" open the crown boards.

The turn of the year gives a more positive aspect and there is a light in the distance at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. However the next couple of months are the "classic" period for colony losses so we have to remain vigilant. Working together we were able to treat every colony and check their fondant, and ensure that the entrances were clear all in a matter of seconds at every hive (and doing over 50 hives between us).

There was a mystery at one site where two of my nuceus hives had been "chewed" at the entrance by some creature. The bees inside seemed fine but what attcked the entrance hole is a mystery ; bird/woodpecker/mouse/rat/mole/badger?