Tag: 2020

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Why We Mark Queens

Most beekeepers put a paint mark on each of their Queens once they’ve mated and settled down in a colony

Why?

  • it makes her easier to find when doing an inspection
  • you know if she’s not the Queen you saw last time
  • it reminds you how old she is
They can be tricky devils to spot (without paint)
Queen Colours
Each year has a set colour with which to mark that season’s Queen based on the last digit of the year

1 or 6 is White
2 or 7 is Yellow
3 or 8 is Red
4 or 9 is Green
5 or 0 is Blue

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00
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Bees Emerging

The miracle of life is still a miracle even if you’re surrounded by 60,000 fellow bees. After developing for 21 days within a capped brood cell something tells each bee it’s time to nibble their way out of the cap and join the throng. Their first task will be to clean out their recently emerged cell – if there were chimneys to climb that’s where they’d be sent!

Bees emerging from their brood cells

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00

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Clouds of Bees

On a sunny August Bank Holiday the girls take advantage of the weather to get out and about. The reduced entrance size we’ve given them to help defend against wasps causes a bit of a queue to get back in though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-dymcgO4uA
Activity around the entrance of Marie

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00

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Inspecting Polly – 31st August 2020

Listen to the recording of us inspecting the colony

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00

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Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 2020

Listen to the recording of us inspecting the colony

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00

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Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 2020

Listen to the recording of us inspecting the colony

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00

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Inspecting Borage – 31st August 2020

Looking for the Queen in Borage – 31st August 2020

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00

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Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 2020

Listen to the recording of us inspecting the colony
Lifting a frame from Tatiana – 31st August 2020

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00

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Winter is Coming

As the season begins to come to an end (late August) the colony prepares for winter. The males in a colony (drones) only have one purpose – to mate with new Queens. They can’t forage for food or look after young or indeed, anything else. Therefore as the mating season is over the hive mind decides they are surplus to requirements and the females (workers – who hugely outnumber the drones) starts to get rid of them. Now, the drones don’t fancy this at all – they’ve lived a wonderful life being waited on, hand and foot, with free food, all summer.

Here’s what happens when a, now unwelcome, Drone tries to come in for some warmth and food…….

https://youtu.be/ZQlUW1WKzhM
It’s going to be a cold winter for someone…..

TitleDate
The Onset of Spring2021/02/172021-02-17 15:44:26
Deep and Crisp and Even2021/01/252021-01-25 21:51:00
Why We Mark Queens2020/09/042020-09-04 13:22:38
Bees Emerging2020/09/032020-09-03 16:00:05
Clouds of Bees2020/09/032020-09-03 15:41:53
Inspecting Polly – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:05:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Marie – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Borage – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Inspecting Hazel – 31st August 20202020/08/312020-08-31 17:00:00
Winter is Coming2020/08/282020-08-28 14:54:26
Inspecting Hazel – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:27
Inspecting Tatiana – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:20
Inspecting Bramble – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:08
Inspecting Marie – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:07
Inspecting Borage – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:06
Inspecting Polly – 24th August 20202020/08/242020-08-24 17:00:00
Inspecting Polly – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:59
Inspecting Hazel – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:44
Inspecting Bramble – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:29
Inspecting Borage – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:18
Inspecting Tatiana – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:12
Inspecting Marie – 9th August 20202020/08/092020-08-09 17:00:00
Inspecting Tatiana – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:04:00
Inspecting Marie – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:01:00
Inspecting Borage – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 10:00:00
Inspecting Bramble – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:58:00
Inspecting Hazel – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:53:00
Inspecting Polly – 29th July 20202020/07/292020-07-29 09:51:00