2 September 2023 Inspection

 

 Temperature about 20°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen not spotted but laying. Sugar syrup feed 5l (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. Eggs and brood observed. Queen not spotted. Sugar syrup feed 4l (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 2 - Queen not spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Sugar syrup feed 4l (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted but laying. Sugar syrup feed 4l (2:1).

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen not spotted. Sugar syrup feed 4l (2:1).

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Queenless. Deliberate allow to naturally perish. 

10 August 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 24°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted and laying. Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony now queen right. Eggs and brood observed. Queen not spotted. Few frames (deep/shallow) harvested. Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony still very prolific. Queen not spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallows) being filled with nectar. Harvested 1 deeper super and 1 shallow super.  Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen spotted but laying. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Fair nectar storage continuing. Sugar syrup feed (2:1).

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Queenless. No eggs/brood observed.

4 August 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 17°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned.

National Hive 2 - Queen spotted and laying generously.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony now queen right. Eggs and brood observed. Queen spotted. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony still very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallows) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted but laying. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage continuing.

Horizontal Hive 2 -  Queenless. No eggs/brood observed.

29 July 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 16°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Decommissioned last week. 

National Hive 2 - Now fully combined with Hive 1. Queen spotted and has started laying generously.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony queenless still. Capped brood from Horizontal Hive 1 beginning to hatch. No queen cells.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony still very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallows) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen spotted but laying well. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen not spotted. Good nectar storage continuing.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Queenless. Presume new virgin queen present but not spotted. No eggs/brood observed.

22 July 2023 - Colony combine

Temperature about 16°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 and National Hive 2  combined using the newspaper method. Hive 1(queenless) on top of queen right Hive 2 brood box.

21 July 2023 Inspection

Temperature about 18°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - No eggs/open brood. Queenless. 

National Hive 2 - Queen observed. Queen spotted and has started laying.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony queenless. Transferred a frame of eggs/open and closed brood from Horizontal Hive 1.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallows) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted but laying well. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage continuing. Transferred a frame of eggs/open/capped brood to Langstroth Hive 1.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Queenless. Previous capped cell cut open. Presume new virgin queen present. No eggs/larvae. 

16 July 2023 Inspection

Temperature about 18°C, overcast. ☁️ 

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. No eggs/open brood. Definitely queenless. Spotted/haphazard drone brood. Worker layer?

National Hive 2 - Queen observed. Queen spotted and has started laying.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony queenless? No eggs/open brood. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen not spotted. Lots of eggs and open and capped brood. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen not spotted and laying well. No queen cells. Supers slowly being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage continuing. Placed QX in situ.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Queenless. Previous capped cell cut open. Presume new virgin queen present.

9 July 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 21°C overcast/sunny.

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. No eggs/open brood. Queenless perhaps?

National Hive 2 - Queen observed. No eggs/open brood. Mated?

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony queenless? No eggs/open brood. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen (black) spotted and laying well. No queen cells. Supers being filled with nectar. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage continuing.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Queenless? One massive capped queen cell in-situ.

1 July 2023 Inspection

Temperature about 16°C overcast/rainy.

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. No eggs/open brood. Preciously transplanted queen cells not accepted?

National Hive 2 - Virgin queen observed. No eggs/open brood.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony quiet. No eggs/brood. Put in-situ frame with capped queen cell from Horizontal Hive 2.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen laying well. No queen cells. Queen not spotted. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony still very slow in progress. Few queen cells. Queen not spotted. Frame with two capped queen cells placed in-situ in Langstroth Hive 1.

24 June 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 22°C overcast.

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. Queennot spotted. No eggs/open brood. Two Queen cells (one open and another capped) transplanted from Langstroth Hive 1.

National Hive 2 - Previously two capped  swarm  cells hatched. Virgin queen observed. No eggs/open brood.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony very active in almost swarm mode. Few swarm cells observed (two transplanted to National Hive1).

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar. Added two frames of foundation. 

Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen laying well. No queen cells. Queen not spotted. Added frame of foundation. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage. Added two frames of foundation. 

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony still very slow in progress. Few queen cells observed and destroyed. Queen spotted.

17 June 2023 Inspection

 

Inspection

 Temperature about 20°C overcas/rainy.

National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. A couple uncapped swarm cells. Removed.

National Hive 2 - Two capped  swarm  cells in-situ. Fed 1.5litres sugar syrup. 

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony very active in almost swarm mode. Queen not spotted. Numerous queen cells capped/uncapped, all destroyed. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen spotted. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

 Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen laying well. No queen cells. Queen not spotted.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage. 

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony still very slow in progress. Queen cell uncapped destroyed. Queen spotted.

11 June 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 23°C, full sun.

National Hive 1 - Colony in potential swarm mode. Queen not spotted. Numerous queen cells (about a dozen) both uncapped and capped (swarm as well as  supersedure). One frame of fresh brood and a good looking capped queen cell donated to National Hive 2.

National Hive 2 - One frame of brood with a capped queen cell from NH 1.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony active steadily. Queen not spotted. No queen cells.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen not spotted. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

 Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen laying well. No queen cells. Queen not spotted.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage. 

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony still very slow in progress. Queen spotted.

6 June 2023 - Split feed.

 Temperature about 18°C, full sun

National Hive 2 (Split/Nuc) - Fed with two 2litre sugar syrup. 

5 June 2023 Inspection

 Temperature about 19°C, full sun.

National Hive 1 - Colony very active. Queen not spotted. Number of newly developing queen cells. Split undertaken, three frames of brood (one with three developing queen cells) in various stages of development to National Hive 2.

National Hive 2 - Three frames of brood from NH 1.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony active steadily. Queen nit spotted. No queen cells.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen observed. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells. Supers (deep + shallow) being filled with nectar.

 Langstroth Hive 3 - Queen laying well. No queen cells. Queen not spotted.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Very active colony. Queen spotted. Good nectar storage. 

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony still very slow in progress. Queen spotted.

29 May Inspection 2023

 

Temperature about 20°C, full sun.

National Hive 1 - Colony active. Queen spotted. Colony progressing well. No queen cells. Few drone brood.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony active steadily. Queen spotted. No queen cells.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen observed. Lots of drone brood and drones. No queen cells.

 Langstroth Hive 3 - New queen laying well. No queen cells.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Active Colony. Queen spotted.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony slow in progress. Queen spotted.

1 May 2023 Inspection

Temperature about 14°C, half sunny. 

National Hive 1 - Colony active. Queen spotted. Colony progressing.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony active steadily. Queen not spotted.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Queen observed. Lots of drone brood and drones. Two sealed queen cells spotted and destroyed after locating the queen.

 Langstroth Hive 3 - Two sealed queen cells created from last week's split observed and left in-situ.

Horizontal Hive 1 - Active Colony. Queen spotted.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony slow in progress. Queen spotted.

22 April 2023 - 'Walk away Split'

 Temperature about 12°C, overcast

Langstroth Hive 2 - Queen observed. Lots of drone brood and a few drones noted. Donated 2 frames of eggs/open/capped brood to Langstroth Hive 3. QE in-situ.

 Langstroth Hive 3 - Given 2 frames of eggs/open/capped brood from

Langstroth Hive 2.

17 April 2023 - Spring Inspection

Temperature about 14°C, overcast. 

National Hive 1 - Colony active. Tidied up frames to create room for new brood. Queen spotted. Placed QE in-situ. Two supers.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony active steadily. Tidied up brood frames to create room for new brood. Queen spotted. No QE required. Supered.

Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very prolific. Four frames of well laid brood of stages of development. No QE required. Queen observed. Lots of drone brood but no drones yet. No cup/queen cells yet. Supered.

 Langstroth Hive 3 - DEAD

Horizontal Hive 1 - Active Colony. Queen spotted. Tidied up frames.

Horizontal Hive 2 - Colony slow in progress. Queen spotted. Tidied up up frames.

5 March 2023 - Proteico Feed

5 March 2023 - Stores Inspection and Proteico feed. Temperature about 8°C, overcast. 

National Hive 1 - Capped stores on second box. Sugar bag being consumed. 1Kg Proteico placed in-situ.

Langstroth Hive 1 - Top box has stores. Sugar bag being consumed. 1kg Proteico placed in-situ. 

Langstroth Hive 2 - Top box has stores. Sugar bag being consumed. 1kg Proteico placed in-situ. 

 Langstroth Hive 3 - Top box has stores. Sugar bag being consumed. 1kg Proteico placed in-situ. 

Horizontal Hive 1 - Sugar bag being consumed. 1kg Proteico placed in-situ. 

Horizontal Hive 2 - Sugar bag being consumed. 1kg Proteico placed in-situ. 

17 February 2023 Second winter Stores Inspection Temperature about 9°C, overcast. National Hive 1 - Frames full of capped stores on second box. Sugar bag still untouched. Langstroth Hive 1 - Top box has stores. Sugar bag still untouched. Langstroth Hive 2 - Top box has stores. Sugar bag still not touched. Langstroth Hive 3 - Top box has stores. Sugar box not touched. Horizontal Hive 1 - Sugar bag being consumed. Horizontal Hive 2 - Sugar bag being consumed.

29 January 2023 Winter Stores Inspection Temperature about 9°C, overcast. National Hive 1 - Frames full of capped stores on second box. Sugar bag still untouched. Langstroth Hive 1 - Top box has stores. Sugar bag still untouched. Langstroth Hive 2 - Top box has stores. Sugar bag still not touched. Langstroth Hive 3 - Top box has stores. Sugar box not touched. Horizontal Hive 1 - Sugar bag being consuned. Horizontal Hive 2 - Sugar bag being consumed.

28 August 2022 Inspection

Temperature about 23°C, part clear sky and warm to hot. National Hive 1 - Queen spotted and brought down from super to brood box. QE put in situ. Eggs/un/capped brood observed. Supers filling with honey. Added a box of cut comb cassettes. Langstroth Hive 1 - Supers filling with honey. Queen laying generously, not spotted. Colony very active. Langstroth Hive 2 - Brood box not inspected. Supers filling with honey.d Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony very profuse. Brood box not inspected. Queen presumed present and laying. Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Steadily expanding. Horizontal Hive 2 - New queen spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Colony steadily progressing.

13 August 2022 Inspection

Temperature about 30°C, clear sky and hot. National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. Eggs/un/capped brood observed. Colony explosion in the last 5 weeks. Super filling with honey. Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony explosion in the last 5 weeks. Two supers filling with honey. Queen laying generously, not spotted. Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony exploded in the last 5 weeks. No queen spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Supers filling with honey. Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony very profuse. Brood box not inspected due to inability to lift deep supers full of honey. Queen presumed present and laying. Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Steadily expanding. Horizontal Hive 2 - Queen not spotted. No eggs/brood observed. Swarmed a week or so ago.

29 June 2022 Inspection

Temperature about 18°C, cloudy/rainy, warm. National Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. Eggs/un/capped brood observed. Steady expansion. Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony expanding very generously. Queen laying generously, not spotted. Fed with 1.5l of sugar syrup. Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very active. No queen spotted. Two open charged queen cells spotted. No eggs/brood observed. Probably queenless unless new virgin queen has not started laying. Fed with 1.5l of sugar syrup. Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony very profuse. Lots of brood. Queen not spotted. Nectar/honey in supers getting consumed. Darth apparently. Small amount of nectar in one super. Fed with 1.5l of sugar syrup. Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Steadily expanding. Fed with 1.5l of sugar syrup. Horizontal Hive 2 - Queen not spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Steadily expanding. Fed with 1.5l of sugar syrup.

23 June 2022 Inspection

Temperature about 22°C, cloudy, warm. National Hive 1 - Queen spotted. Eggs/un/capped brood observed. Steady expansion. Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony expanding very generously. Queen laying generously, not spotted. Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very active. No queen spotted. Two open charged queen cells spotted. No eggs/brood observed. Probably queenless unless new virgin queen has not started laying. Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony very profuse. Lots of brood. Queen spotted. Nectar/honey in supers getting consumed. Darth apparently. Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Steadily expanding. Horizontal Hive 2 - Queen spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Steadily expanding.

16 June 2022 Inspection

Temperature about 22°C, cloudy, warm. National Hive 1 - Queen spotted. Eggs/capped brood observed. Steady expansion. Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony expanding very generously. Queen laying generously, not spotted. Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very active. New queen spotted. Numerous queen cells observed (open/sealed). Loads of capped brood. Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony very profuse. Lots of brood. Queen not spotted. Nectar/honey in supers. Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen spotted. Eggs/brood observed. Horizontal Hive 2 - Queen not spotted. Eggs/brood observed.

4 June 2022 Inspection

Temperature about 18°C, sunny, warm. National Hive 1 - Queen spotted. Eggs/capped brood observed. Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony expanding generously. Queen laying generously, not spotted. Another super added for space. Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very active and profuse. Queen not spotted. Numerous queen cells observed (open/sealed). All destroyed except three. Loads of capped brood. Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony very profuse. Lots of brood. Queen spotted. Nectar/honey in super. Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen spotted. No eggs/brood observed. Horizontal Hive 2 - Queen spotted. No eggs/brood observed.

29 May Inspection

Temperature about 14°C, overcast, warm. National Hive 1 - Queen spotted and laying begun and eggs/capped brood observed. Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony expanding generously. Queen laying generously, not spotted. Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony very active and profuse. Queen spotted. Loads of brood of all stages. Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony very profuse. Lots of brood. Queen spotted. Nectar/honey in super. Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen spotted and laying. Horizontal Hive 2 - Queen spotted and laying.

21 May Inspection

Temperature about 15°C, overcast, warm. National Hive 1 - From swarm captured on 8 May 2022. Queen spotted. Laying begun and eggs/capped brood observed. Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony expanding steadily. Queen laying, not spotted. Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony active. Queen spotted. Loads of brood of all stages. Another super(without frames) added. Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony profuse. Another super (without frames) added. Lots of brood. Queen not spotted. Nectar/honey in super. Horizontal Hive 1 - Queen not spotted. Horizontal Hive 2 - Queen not spotted.

15 May Inspection

Temperature about 15°C, overcast, warm. National Hive 1 - From swarm captured on 8 May 2022. Queen spotted. Laying begun and eggs observed. Langstroth Hive 1 - Colony expanding steadily. Queen laying and spotted. Langstroth Hive 2 - Colony active. Queen spotted. Loads of brood of all stages. Langstroth Hive 3 - Colony profuse. Another super added. Lots of brood. Queen spotted. Nectar/honey in super. Horizontal Hive 1 - Not inspected. Horizontal Hive 2 - Not inspected.