Washout

I know bees are busy, but I'm not sure they are patient. After my last entry, we had frost that stuck my car door shut in the morning and sheet rain this morning. The bees cannot be happy. While I imagine they are using the short interludes of sunshine to quickly buzz around, they must be more frustrated than anything. Lucky they have it warm in their hives - and have some candy fondant to eat. Not sure, but I can imagine all those little workers stuffing themselves with sweets in their frustration.

Rapidly cleaned feeders

Anyway, I have started  to prepare equipment and check everything is in good order. I started on the rapid feeders which I hadn't really cleaned since taking them off the hives last July. Big mistake. In future I vow to clean feeders immediately after use. Propolis was everywhere and it was only after an extended soda crystal bath that I could get the feeders anything approaching clean. They still aren't perfect, but will do.

Talking of cleaning feeders immediately: I saw some green fuzz in the contact feeders, so fungi are obviously feeding on the rest sugar in there. Yes - I really must clean the feeders immediately after use and I will in future.