Amanda's Beekeeping Notes

As I write this, on 24th June the Blackberry is in full bloom and the weather is warm and there is a lovely smell of nectar coming from the hives.

After such a promising and hopeful start in April, May has turned out to be something of a disaster in my apiary.  On 28^th April I had the first signs of Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV) in my largest, best colony...

I think this April has been slightly warmer than April 2021, but there were still only a few days warm enough and with wind low enough to carry out relatively regular inspections...

Here we are at last in what seems to me to be the busiest month in the bee season. The colonies are expanding exponentially...

I hope all your colonies survived the recent storms and that no branches fell on them. Also I hope none blew over...

I watched a National Honey Show video recently, Reading the Hive, by Kirsten Traynor of 2 million blossoms...

Its time to assess the quality of your colonies based on the notes you have taken throughout the year...

Bees’ behaviour is fascinating, even after nearly 20 years with them, they frequently cause me to wonder...

It is important to check entrances regularly, one of my colonies is still throwing out drones...

October 2021. I have now frozen all my honey supers for a few days to kill all wax moth stages...

September 2021. So much for the honey harvest. Mine was half what I harvested the previous year...

August 2021. As I write this the heatwave in July broke last night into thunderstorms.....

July 2021. The weather in the early part of June was ideal for queen mating.  My puzzle cluster now has brood....

June 2021. After a cold dry April, May did not seem to be much better for the bees, just warmer and wet instead....

May 2021. What a strange April. Nice sunny days, but generally cold with a chill wind and frost nearly every night...

April 2021. There are lots of flowers out now and it has been warm enough for the bees to be quite active and bring in plenty of pollen and nectar...

March 2021. I can hardly wait until the weather is good enough to see how the rest of my colonies are. I managed to check 5 of mine yesterday...

February 2021. As I write this, the sun is shining after Storm Christoph with frost still in the shade, but the colonies in full sun...

December 2020. I have an inkling of how the bees might be feeling at the moment with the recent wet and windy, but mild, weather...

November 2020. After the wet and windy weather in the last few weeks it was a pleasure to see my bees busy...

October 2020. I have seen a few European hornets around, cruising up and down my flowerbeds looking for unwary insects..

September 2020. So, the end of another bee year and the start of the new. How was 2020 for you?

August 2020. I was disappointed to see my nectar flow had practically stopped by 20th July 

July 2020. How different this year is to this time last year when I had been suffering with rainy weather..

June 2020. As I write this we are having another little heatwave. The forecast, dare I say it, looks promising..

May 2020. After another fine week in the latter half of April all the bees have been very busy...

April 2020. It is very difficult to know what will happen in April this year, but it seems to be a later start than last year

March 2020. March will be the start of bee activities this year, with what could be the most important and eagerly awaited first inspection

February 2020. Firstly, I hope none of your bees suffered or drowned in Storm Brendan and the heavy rain

January 2020. In this quiet time it is an opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future

December 2019. There is not much we can do this month apart from checking they have not been blown over...

November 2019. In spite of the rain we have had it has been fairly mild and the bees very active between showers

October 2019. I hope everyone has completed their bee jobs for this time of year, including treatment and feeding 

September 2019. Main jobs for the month, feeding, hoverflies and mass bee deaths in Brazil.

August 2019. Honey crop, winter bees, feeding, mite control, things to do and latest research.

July 2019. Unsettled weather, spread of viruses, honey stores . Latest research. 

June 2019. This month yellow faces from oil seed rape & brick red pollen from the horse chestnuts. Latest research. 

May 2019. This month cleaning, checking for Varroa and keeping an eye open for swarm preparations

April 2019. This month cleaning, checking for Varroa and keeping an eye open for swarm preparations

March 2019. This month  An early warm spell allows for an early inspection.  Dealing with DWV and hygienic testing.

February 2019. This month  Apart from the usual things like making sure the entrance is clear of dead bees hefting for stores is very important. 

January 2019. This month Amanda details her recent Oxalic Acid Vapourisation. Threat to National Parks.

December 2018. This month Amanda's notes include: Armchair planning, frames to clean and winter checks.

November 2018. This month Amanda's notes include: Tucking the bees in for winter and planting for Bees

October 2018. This month Amanda's notes include: Tucking the bees in for winter and planting for Bees

September 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: treating varroa, feeding bees and spring bulbs

August 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: helping a broodless colony and the summer forage

July 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: queen rearing, swarms, bee hygiene and jobs for July

June 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: wax moth, swarming season, bee forage and world bee day

May 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: spring preparations and solitary bee sightings

April 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: Investigating spring colony loss & neonics threat.

March 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: Early inspections and preparing for a cold spell.

February 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: Preparing for the new year and worrying UK sales of Apivar.

January 2018.  This month Amanda's notes include: Bee clusters in winter and an update on neonics.

December 2017.  This month Amanda's notes include: Winter treatments, Apishield floor and Wasps.

November 2017.  This month Amanda's notes include: Checking for mites, Mouse guards on, & declining insects.

October 2017.  This month Amanda's notes include: Mite drops, Greater Wax Moth & Feeding.

September 2017.  This month Amanda's notes include: Robbing, Apiguard and Dusting.

August 2017.  This month Amanda's notes include: Removing the last supers & re-queening.