Got back from the East Coast today and was in my office, where I can see San Queens out the window. I noticed a blue jay we call Blue Max hanging out on the fence by the hive as if he was expecting something. I've seen him doing that before and wondered, but never saw why.
I keep a pair of binoculars by the window to watch the action on the landingboard. I started checking out the hive entrance because I wasn't seeing any pollen going in. I noticed an odd uniform line of bees ABOVE the entrance and looking down toward it. I had just thought, "Are they bigger than the others? Are they drones who are trying to get back in?" when I saw a flash of blue across the lens.
This is what I think is going on. Nectar flow is finally done and they're kicking the drones out. Blue Max has caught on to this action, knows the drones don't sting, and is eating his fill of the big boys. I'll check it out some more tomorrow.
I have to get a camera.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Petaluma & San Queens-July 23
Been meaning to do this for a week, but had to fly out to the East Coast the next day for family. And then things were all hectic out there, internet and otherwise.
I'm pretty sure the weather was what it has been pretty steady--in the low 70º's, low wind. In the afternoon I geared up and opened Petaluma--we are all still a little gun shy of her after I took out all kinds of crazy comb and they got all protective, followed anybody who came into the back yard around until they left, stung Rachel twice in one day. They have really calmed down, but the others are nervous and she's definitely in the wrong place--central to the garden, and the bees' flight path out of the hive are just about eye-level to a six-year-old; I am building a bamboo screen around it this weekend to see if I can vault them up higher. Anyway, I geared up and opened her with smoke. The crazy comb was pretty under control. what was interesting was that they seem to be building hard to the left of the hive, beginning honey in the far left frame even while there were 2 open frames on the right side. Other than that, she had room, but there was open brood, good laying patterns, interestingly nearly all in the free-form bumpy frame in the middle of the brood box.
Then I went into San Queens, who continues to be my star. She looked great and I put another super on her. I hadn't expected her to be so full so I had to build it fast. It's unpainted and they got all unbuilt up frames. I'll be curious to see what they do with it.
I'm pretty sure the weather was what it has been pretty steady--in the low 70º's, low wind. In the afternoon I geared up and opened Petaluma--we are all still a little gun shy of her after I took out all kinds of crazy comb and they got all protective, followed anybody who came into the back yard around until they left, stung Rachel twice in one day. They have really calmed down, but the others are nervous and she's definitely in the wrong place--central to the garden, and the bees' flight path out of the hive are just about eye-level to a six-year-old; I am building a bamboo screen around it this weekend to see if I can vault them up higher. Anyway, I geared up and opened her with smoke. The crazy comb was pretty under control. what was interesting was that they seem to be building hard to the left of the hive, beginning honey in the far left frame even while there were 2 open frames on the right side. Other than that, she had room, but there was open brood, good laying patterns, interestingly nearly all in the free-form bumpy frame in the middle of the brood box.
Then I went into San Queens, who continues to be my star. She looked great and I put another super on her. I hadn't expected her to be so full so I had to build it fast. It's unpainted and they got all unbuilt up frames. I'll be curious to see what they do with it.
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Friday, July 18, 2008
Los Gatos Yesterday
Weather: 70º, clear.
opened about 4pm. For some reason, I set up a 7 frame hive like w/ San Queens. Huge amount of propolis, looked like a porcupine in there. I need to get a good camera. I noticed this the last time, right after I got back from the East Coast a week ago. I'm pretty sure they built it up during the heat wave. I added a 7-frame super w 2 of the frames from the extraction I did on San Queens. You can now see the hive peeking up over the grass when you drive up the driveway.
opened about 4pm. For some reason, I set up a 7 frame hive like w/ San Queens. Huge amount of propolis, looked like a porcupine in there. I need to get a good camera. I noticed this the last time, right after I got back from the East Coast a week ago. I'm pretty sure they built it up during the heat wave. I added a 7-frame super w 2 of the frames from the extraction I did on San Queens. You can now see the hive peeking up over the grass when you drive up the driveway.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
San Queens
Beautiful day, light wind, mid-70's, clear most of the day, some lingering smoke.
Just went into the top of SQ, took out the bowl the cappings had been in and took of the super I had the two frames hanging in on top of the feeder. They had scattered the cappings all over the inside of the feeder, and have started some minor building. I left it to them but will watch it. The frames they cleaned out were beautiful, was showing them to everybody--creamy white, picked clean. I'll use them on LG when I go put a new super on them tomorrow.
Just went into the top of SQ, took out the bowl the cappings had been in and took of the super I had the two frames hanging in on top of the feeder. They had scattered the cappings all over the inside of the feeder, and have started some minor building. I left it to them but will watch it. The frames they cleaned out were beautiful, was showing them to everybody--creamy white, picked clean. I'll use them on LG when I go put a new super on them tomorrow.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Los Gatos Yesterday
Visited it yesterday for the first time in about 2 weeks. 70º, clear low wind. Nice activity at the entrance. I put the entrance reducer back on to discourage robbers, but there was no sign of such. There had been a heat wave since I last opened it, and I could tell w/ all the propolis. I had added a medium super on my last visit--7 frames, like I had made the rest of the hive for some reason--and it was just about full, w/ one line of open brood on one side of one of the middle frames. Nice and healthy. And a sweet tempered hive. It was after 5pm and I could have used no smoke.
Add a super this week.
Add a super this week.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
San Queens & Petaluma
Slightly overcast, c. 70º, no wind. Used no smoke.
San Queens--put cappings from harvest of 4 frames into the feeder. Left the little bowl in there also. Put a medium deep on top of the feeder and two of the 4 frames from extraction in it. 7/14--clean up everything.
Petaluma--Traded out two empty medium frames from the top medium super and replaced them with 2 other frames from extraction.
Rinsed out plastic box, that I stored honey'd frames in, on the front lawn and dumped in the bushes. Yesterday I rinsed the extractor on the back patio and we had hostile bees all over cuz of the honey water in the cement.
San Queens--put cappings from harvest of 4 frames into the feeder. Left the little bowl in there also. Put a medium deep on top of the feeder and two of the 4 frames from extraction in it. 7/14--clean up everything.
Petaluma--Traded out two empty medium frames from the top medium super and replaced them with 2 other frames from extraction.
Rinsed out plastic box, that I stored honey'd frames in, on the front lawn and dumped in the bushes. Yesterday I rinsed the extractor on the back patio and we had hostile bees all over cuz of the honey water in the cement.
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