I went to one of my yards, the Conondale yard to get a Spring check done and clean the tops of the frames, ready to maybe take some honey off soon.
As expected I lost a couple of hives. It is not AFB, I would smell this but they probably lost the queen during winter and could not make a replacement.
I will deal with all the equipment as if it was a disease - sterilise as required.
Fewer SHB then expected. Definitely a positive. The traps were pretty full of beetles and I replaced most with new ones.
A lot more propoliis than in other years.
No moisture inside the hives as I had last year. Very much a positive as the moisture is not doing the timber frames any good.
No varroa. This would have been a rude shock. I will keep the container ready to do sugar shakes.
Most honey suppers are full capped with honey to take. There is work ahead.
There is plenty of lovely brood at all stages and the first of the Drones - the time to make splits is not far off.
It has been , so far , a very mild winter. Very dry and very warm. They tell us that July was the warmest July on record.I can remember 20 years ago having to break the ice on the shep's water trough and the frost used to burn off all the Lantana along the Mary River - no more.
I came home, and while I'm deaf as, I could hear a swarm taking off. I got most of the bees into a 10 frame super- we shall see soon if they like their new home or not.
The first swarms for the season. 10. August - the last winter month!
Make sure you got your gear ready - supers painted, frames wired and with foundation
The new season has started.