Blog | caulcotthoney

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Apr 4
1 min

The Blackthorn Winter.

The Blackthorn Winter is a spell of cold weather in early April which often coincides with the blossoming of the blackthorn in hedgerows....

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Carol Malin

Sep 24, 2020
2 min

Ivy, why you should leave it to grow.

Ivy is an important source of late autumn pollen and nectar for Honey bees and other pollinators. Ivy mainly flowers in September and...

2 views0 comments

Carol Malin

Sep 17, 2020
1 min

Colletes - Plasterer Bees

Photograph taken at The ORC site, Heading, Oxfordshire by C A Malin. This is a furry solitary bee of medium size. Pollen is collected on...

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Carol Malin

Sep 16, 2020
2 min

The importance of pollen to Honey Bees.

Bee bread is a mixture of pollen and nectar/honey. It the main source of food for the workers and larvae. Pollen is stored in the cells...

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Honey supers on and the golden nectar taken off.

Carol Malin

Jun 18, 2020
1 min

Honey supers on and the golden nectar taken off.

The honeybees are out in this warm weather, collecting pollen and nectar. The brood boxes where the queens stays (hopefully and not in...

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Carol Malin

Mar 24, 2020
1 min

In these worrying times.

I hope you are all keeping safe and well.. Well, the bee's are out and about, plenty of pollen being brought in, this shows that the...

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C A Malin

Nov 28, 2019
1 min

A matter of wax.

For honeybees to make wax they have to raise the temperature in the hive from 33 to 36°C (91 to 97°F). They would need to consume eight...

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C A Malin

Oct 19, 2019
1 min

That time of year again.

Woodpecker guards made for the extra colonies.

1 view0 comments

C A Malin

Mar 20, 2019
1 min

1st Day of Spring.

The Honeybees are out today collecting pollen and nectar from Box (Buxus sempervirens). There are various colours of pollen they are...

9 views0 comments

C A Malin

Mar 20, 2019
1 min

Bumblebee Nest Box.

I have painted my nest box and it is now ready to be placed outside hoping to encourage a queen bumblebee to use it. I will update you in...

29 views0 comments

C A Malin

Feb 14, 2019
1 min

The Bees were Buzzing today.

February 14th and what a lovely day. The birds were singing and the bees buzzing. The bees even found some pollen to bring in.

22 views0 comments

C A Malin

Jan 21, 2019
1 min

Fondant feeding.

During these winter months you need to keep a check on the hives, not only for damage caused by high winds, falling branches and...

8 views0 comments

C A Malin

Jan 21, 2019
1 min

Winter jobs

There are many winter jobs for a Beekeeper, but one of them is cleaning the wax you have collected through the year. There are many ways...

7 views0 comments

C A Malin

Sep 21, 2018
1 min

Feeding the hives.

Once you have taken the varroa treatment off the hives, now is the time to feed your bees, with some varroa treatments you cannot feed...

17 views0 comments

C A Malin

Jul 19, 2018
1 min

Very little flowering

Many parts of Britain have had very little rain and in this part of Oxfordshire we have not had any. There is very little flowering for...

19 views0 comments

C A Malin

May 10, 2018
1 min

Oil seed rape spraying.

If you are a beekeeper you need to be aware that the oil seed rape will be sprayed with insecticides when it is in full flower. Hopefully...

32 views0 comments

C A Malin

Apr 19, 2018
1 min

Out checking hive in the sun.

Well, the weather has change, so for the past two days I took advantage of the very warm sunshine. Queens are laying, 2 to 4 frames of...

25 views0 comments

C A Malin

Mar 3, 2018
1 min

Snow

If you can get out to your hives in the snow, check the entrance to the hive is clear of snow. If your hives are on solid floors,...

33 views0 comments

C A Malin

Feb 12, 2018
5 min

Life of the Bumblebee

The first bumblebee queens will emerge from hibernation in spring, some as early as February or March. Only the fattest queens survive,...

55 views0 comments

C A Malin

Dec 28, 2017
1 min

Woodpecker damage.

During autumn/winter you should protect your hives against woodpeckers. As you can see from this picture a woodpecker has put a few holes...

61 views0 comments

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