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Used the warm weather to check my eight colonies. two were alright, brood area was small but then there isn't a lot of forage here at this time of year. 5 had very heavy chalkbrood mummies on the OMF and the last was classic foul brood (AFB0 stringy mess and the lot. confirmed by microscope slide.
Oh well off to the pit tonight.

Unbelievable weather at the moment. Over 20c in Belfast today.
I checked a few colonies I have at the bottom of the garden, 4 in wooden brood boxes and 2 in correx nucs.
3 were very strong, 2 were about right for the time of year and the other is one I did not expect to survive which is now improving. It had about two half covered frames in December. Two of the strongest ones had drones already hatched and the strongest had 7 frames of brood. They were well clogged with stores and ...

Took advantage of the warmest March day in Scotland and I've been through all of mine now. No drone layers, none queenless. One has lots of brood (7-8 frames) and when that lot hatches there will be no room at all in the box. Time for a second brood box for that one. There are three with 4-5 frames of brood and the other two are a bit weaker still with 2-3 frames and half a box of bees. None are borderline survivors and all look like they will flourish this spring. The big one is the most ...

Had another visit yesterday and pulled some frames for the first time as the sun was out and the sheltered site was encouraging lots of flying. There was a Japanese quince just inside the garden which was humming with bees, apparently collecting pollen.





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Bringing home the willow pollen.



In this one just back from the willow you can clearly see the combs on the hind legs used to press and squeeze the moistened pollen through into the pollen baskets. Come to think of it, that doesn't look like willow. Not dusty enough.



On their way out the door they give their antennae a quick wipe before they ...