the First Job of the Year

I have watched the number of flying bees at the hive entrance increase in number over the last few weeks. 

The bees are certainly busy bringing in a bright yellow pollen  which is from the willow and a brownish pollen from the gorse flowers.

So it is the time of year when everything is about to take off and the beekeeping year really gets going.

So today we have been increasing the volume of the hives by adding an additional box called a super.  This box will take the honey when it starts to come in within the next few weeks.

Sometimes we come across a hive and we are not certain whether or not there are enough bees to warrant all the extra space.  We put a sheet of newspaper between the boxes so that the bees can get through it when they are ready.