The weather forecast across the UK is for reduced temperatures from the weekend, actually it is going to be more seasonal weather.  This weather has been great, however I was speaking to a potato farmer yesterday. He recalled last time we had a March like this. He had started planting potatoes in March, then it rain non stop throughout April and he eventually finished planting in May.

Don’t want to be a pessimist – but also with a hose pipe ban in some parts of the country starting the 5th April, I would consider placing a bet on the skies opening on the 6th. It’s called ” Sods Law ” !!

I had a quick look today at one hive and see that with the fantastic pollen and nectar flow of the last week that a lot of nectar has been stored in the super. Of course nothing capped as yet.  Will do inspections over weekend, as need to check bee space and whether queen cells are starting to appear. I’ve heard reports of some swarms already. I would be surprised if I see a queen cell, as seen no drone brood of any quantity as yet.

This so far has been an unusual start of the season, so I am expecting everthing and nothing this year. Along way to go !!

Added a few more photographs from yesterday.

 

In my last blog I was not convinced that my bees were on the willow along the river banks here. On closer inspection the weeping willow is now fully in flower and humming to the sound of bees.

I shot a few photographs this morning of my bees working the willow and attach a few here.

The last photo is of a tiny little bee, covered in pollen. Not a honey bee, possible a very small bumblebee or solitary bee. It is 1/2 to 1/3rd the size of a honey bee. Anyone know what it is ?

Photographs below -

 

 

I guess like me you got out and inspected your hives today. This unseasonally good weather has got my bees working hard. I inspected 3 hives this afternoon and found on all three that bees had gone through the newspaper and were into the super. Each of these hives are on one and half brood boxes. In one hive I was pleasantly surprised to see capped brood on one shallow frame. Assume as this hive had 12 sides of brood in main box that queen had decided to work upwards.

Another hive I found the capped brood on 9 frames was on frames to the left of centre. To try and centralise the brood in the hive, I placed the far right hand frame, with empty comb and some honey, back to the hive as the last frame on the left.  I will keep an eye on this and see if another frame needs moving over next time. Always best if brood is central in the hive.

Attach a few photos and captions from what I saw today.