Today the sun shone from dawn to dusk, the cold wind was not as strong as it had been and the thermometer reached 16c.   It was a good day for a walk along a quiet grassy lane with good views towards the Forth in the north and the hills to the south and the sound of larks singing above.  I passed some beehives where there had been only three beehives before and perhaps the increase in the number of hives now meant that a sign was necessary.  Frequently the lane is very muddy with puddles but today there were only two little puddles and I was surprised to see groups of honey bees appearing to drink the muddy water.  Apparently the older bees collect water from puddles or a water source and fill their honey stomachs with the water then offload it when they return to the hives.  It is necessary when there is a dearth of nectar bearing flowers or during periods when the hive gets too hot.
Colonies of honey bees need water to survive.  If needs water to prevent dehydration of the adult bees, to prepare liquid food for the brood, and to cool the hive on hot days.  A colony’s water need is often met by the water that its foragers retrieve incidentally as they collect nectar, since nectar contains much water.  Sometimes, however, a portion of a colony’s work force must intentionally collect water from streams and other wet places.   During early spring, the lengthening days and new sources of pollen and nectar stimulate brood rearing. The bees also gather water to regulate temperature and to liquefy thick or granulated honey in the preparation of brood food. Drones will be absent or scarce at this time of the year.