Evan lead the penultimate scheduled inspection of the season with the help of Tony B, Andy O, and Dusan. Even this late in the season one colony was found to have 36 emergency queen cells. Grey Himalayan Balsam pollen was spotted on the backs of a number of bees. For the full inspection report summery click HERE.
Unfortunately the lead beekeeper was on his own today and kept actions down to a minimum. Checking or removing feeders and applying MAQs varroa treatment where colonies were strong enough. Only colony 7 had a full inspection after being united with queen-less colony 6 the previous week. We now have eight colonies. You can find the full report HERE.
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Kevin kindly stepped in to fill the vacant Lead Beekeeper slot, leading two Tonys, Jo, Danny, Dusan and Evan. They found: a number of colonies too weak to treat with MAQs; evidence of of a uniting that didn’t go well; a couple of strong colonies and …PLEASE NOTE: No Report was filed for Sunday 18 August.
Garth lead Tony B, Andy O and Dusan through this busy session. Eight colonies were fed to enable the bees to create winter stores before the ivy flow. Queen excluders, clearer boards and cleaned honey supers were removed. (Supers subsequently fumigated – to prevent wax moth.) The full report can …
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This members only inspection was lead by John, assisted by Tony L, Dusan, Alex and Evan, Honey supers from the previous Saturday’s extraction were still wet and being used. MAQs treatment did not take place. Four colonies were to be left un-inspected until August 25 inspection. For the summary sheet click HERE.
This open inspection session was led by Kevin, two members assisted and four members of the public joined us… the youngest 9 years old. We are not saying who was the oldest! Nucleus hives appear to be building up ok, but needed feeding. Four colonies need leaving alone until 25 August inspection. You can find the inspection report HERE.
Lead beekeeper and assistants found puzzling goings on at the apiary today. Queen, fresh eggs and a capped queen cell in one hive. A tower of supers but no evidence of a queen in another.
For a summary of all the mysteries discovered and the solutions tried click HERE.
This open inspection session was led by Nigel Perkins, assisted by two members and joined by four members of the public. We currently have ten colonies, three in nucleus boxes. Some colonies were left alone to let new queens settle in. You can find the inspection summary HERE
NOTE: No summaries were submitted for 06 & 13 July.
BASIC ASSESSMENTS – for five W&DBKA members
Assessors: Sean Stephenson & Jenny Morgan. W&DBKA Coordinator: Garth Matthews
NOTE: There wasn’t a normal inspection this weekend but the coordinator reported on what was found during the practical assessment sessions.
You can find his report HERE.
Neil Marshall lead this closed inspection session, helped by four members. Garth needed the number of queen right hives available for the Basic Assessments. Three nucs created from hives with charged open queen cells (that is: preparing to swarm). Three hives Basic Assessment ready. Garth checking which of his hives are suitable. Full inspection details HERE.