Diary of an Incompetent Beekeeper: April 2019

29 April 2019

I won't do that

Where do people find the time for this kind of thing? (And thank goodness they do!)

28 April 2019

Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated

Pic from https://www.biography.com/writer/mark-twain

First opportunity today to check the colonies. Local temp was around 16C, and the bees were flying from all except one hive, which looked like bad news...

However, it turned out that the colonies were weaker than I guessed,and the non-flying hive particularly small. No queen cells found.

Fingers crossed for a warm May.

24 April 2019

Guerilla Gardening

Last week I planted three Ceanothus in the track next to the apiary. Not strictly my bit of land, but ...

Pic from https://www.plantsgaloreonline.co.uk/plants/large-trellis-climbing-plants/ceanothus-thyrsiflorus-concha-trellis-climber-20-ltr-californian-lilac.html

23 April 2019

Jericho Beekeeping

As usual, time only for Jericho Beekeeping this evening. All the colonies are going well and have enough space - but I didn't have time for a full inspection, so they could be riddled with queen cells and about to swarm.

Canadian researchers warn of 'cascading impacts' as bumblebee species decline

By the look of the photo, spearing insects with pins can't be helping too much, either...

See original story here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bumblebees-decline-pollinators-1.5106260

17 April 2019

Roger Burns & swarm capture

Masses of swarms being collected by WBKA members, which prompted me to search for swarm stories. Here's one from 2016 in the Daily Telegraph.

Roger Burns, of Pembrokeshire Beekeepers, said: "I got about 15 or 20 stings for my trouble. I then left the cardboard box on the roof while we waited for the last few hundred bees to leave the boot but then a gust of wind blew it off and the queen may have fled back to the boot again."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/24/swarm-of-bees-follow-grandmothers-car-for-over-24-hours-attempti/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_em

16 April 2019

Beginners, apparently

15 April 2019

Run away!

Spotted by another WBKA beekeeper: look closely at top right, and you can see a monk legging it from the bees. I sympathise (with the running, not the monkery).