Unknown Pest

Checking my apiary sites today I found this nucleus hive (which has a colony bees in) had been attacked by something (within the last week). Fortunately the bees appear okay, for now...
I wonder what could do this? Shrew??

The Benefit to Bees In Sub Zero Temperatures

I am hopeful that this cold spell will be beneficial to our bees. It will help keep pests and diseases at bay (bar the woodpecker!) and the bees will not be so active, therefore will not use so much stored honey! Many people think that sub zero temperatures would the most detrimental but the worst weather for bees is damp weather. The main risk this weather is if the bees use up all the stores that they are clustered on and become isolated from other food stored.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you happiness and all the very best in 2015.

Seasons Greetings

Happy Christmas Everybody!

Good?.....Or Bad??

Checking all my hives today, found these little beggars had noshed their way well through the fondant even though they have 2 supers (boxes) of honey on board. I hope they are just filling all the gaps with fondant and not using the fondant because they have already eaten all their honey stores. I put another block of fondant on just in case.

Fine Feathered Friend

Over the last few months I have been joined at one of my sites by this little chap. A  bit camera shy but I finally got a pose. The robin normally sits right on the hive I am at, and sits on the fondant eke as I lift the roof to check there is fondant still available for the bees; and the little fellow follows me at every hive there (12 at present).

Defence

Checking my colonies today for fondant it was noticeable how defensive they were; lifting the roofs to check the fondant instigated an immediate response with bees flying out of the entrance (and in some cases straight down my boots!) and reminding me they were not in the mood to be messed with!!