Nectar?

[Stromnessbees]

Another way to check if they are taking in a decent amount of nectar is at their watering hole. While they are still using up stores they need water to dilute them. Once the nectar comes in you won't see them gathering water any more.

If it's a very good flow lots of bees will be fanning at the entrance in the evening to replace the moist air within the hive. But I am not sure if it's as obvious with an Open Mesh Floor.

Doris

[Stromnessbees]

Finally we have had a day of decent weather even here in Orkney, and the bees had a chance to gather lots of pollen and nectar. The dandelion is in full bloom, and if you pick one of the twiglets of flowers from a Flowering Currant bush and flick it against the back of your hand, you can taste for yourself the sweet droplets of nectar that the bees are colllecting so eagerly.

Doris