Time to Rant!

It is far from the best of times for me personally, but I am incensed by what I read in the bee keepers' magazine. Now they are entitled to their opinion, so then am I:
I do not believe that experienced bee keepers should be promoting inspecting colonies AT ALL in October, let alone November! To what possible benefit? If there is already a problem what can be done this time of year??
Then there is promoting education! Now I could really rant on for hours/pages here but it will have no effect as the powers that be have their closed regime and their way is "gospel". I am always open to better myself, or what I should say is better the bees, if someone can show me a better way. And I still ask who trains the trainers?
By the way I am only on page 8 of the November issue, 24 pages still to read!

Honey Buzzard/ Brain the size of a grass seed!

This bird isn't really a buzzard and it doesn't like honey or honey bees (much!) but it loves to attack wasp nests. I like this bird! Apparantly something to do with the feathers makes it immune to wasp stings and it loves to rip wasp nests apart and feed on the larvae.
Did you know that bees can solve complex mathematical problems which keep computers busy for days. As a result bees fly the shortest route between flowers discovered in random order; which equates to the travelling salesman problem, who have to compute the best route between visits. Bees reach their conclusion using a brain the size of a grass seed.
However bees do lose their memory just like humans and this is more apparent with age (like humans?).
Last but not least I have to say how sad it is to hear of David Barriball losing 9 colonies and hives which were destroyed by someone stealing a tractor and driving over the hives. I understand Dave has offered a reward. I wonder if the punishment could also befit the crime.

Bees have Hairy Eyeballs

I suffered withdrawal symptoms today and was compelled to visit two apiaries in order to get a "fix" and see some hives. All were okay but it was early in the day and with a frost there was no activity. Still it seemed to help!
I went to a local meeting tonight and enjoyed the talk given by Neil Harrison which gave comparisons and differences of honey bees and wasps. I had heard it before (a good few years ago!) but I was able to understand it better on this occaision. The title and closing line was that Bees have hairy eyeballs, backed up with a comparison slide of the corneas of the honey bee and wasp. However the reason for this was unknown. Anybody know?

Greedy Little Beggars.. but I don't mind really!

I checked all my hives today, just lifting the roof to see if the fondant had been taken down. Nearly half of my colonies had eaten all their fondant so they have all received another half block. At two sites there was also a distinct odour that indicated the bees had been collecting nectar from the Ivy. It was a cold day with a fine drizzle in the air but most were foraging which I was surprised at as the temperature was 10 degrees celsius at best.

When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth

Seen the film? Well in some spheres it's still reality, believe me! Thers is a small hope: at least "BJ" accepts more modern concepts (am I going mad?).
Anyway on a lighter note, "Thank You" to Graham Royle who gave an entertaining lecture this evening and I do like the look of his book (buy,buy,buy).

Ivy

The weather loday was lovely. I managed to sneak down the garden to watch the hives for a little while. Before I had even opened the gate there was an unmistakable smell from within the apiary: the Ivy must have begun to yield!

400 Teachers for amateur beekeepers

Here we go! 400 teachers! Who will they be? Who decides? What will be taught?

Ritz Left Trashed by Mouse!

My guest mouse has gone. The nucleus hive inhabited the last few months was empty and the nest that was inside found strewn outside the entrance. It has left me with mixed emotions: I hope that "mouse" has found a better place, sad that it has gone but pleased I can now reclaim the hive and return it home to clean and sterilise ready for bees next year.

Grateful To My Sources

In thanking Dot I must also mention and say "thank you" to my work colleague and friend Keith, who often provides leads for me to comment and write about.

Well Done "The Bees"

Congratulations and well done to Coventry "Bees" Speedway Team.
Interesting also to read that bees' powerful sense of smell may be used to help detection of things like human disease and even explosive devices (Thanks to Dotty for the news clip!).

PS. Lay off De Jong!

Washed Out, like the Ryder Cup

I planned to be at a farmers market today: selling my honey and talking to people about the honey bee. I love talking to people about bee keeping. Alas the rain came and the market didn't happen. Pity my friends at work tomorrow, will bore them to tears!