Buzz’s the word
One of the necessary tasks of a beekeeper is hive inspection. Winter is coming and even though this area is not particularly harsh compared to my younger days in Wisconsin, the bees need to be prepared. Some people end up feeding their bees through the winter months as flowers and nectar are not so plentiful as in the summer months.
We always suit up to work the bees—including gloves and veil although by the end of our working, I took off my gloves to work the camera.
LIghting the smoker is always a bit of a challenge–and then there is all that smoke—–and then the bees become alarmed and start flying around—more concerned and confused than angry or upset.
First cover is taken off, more smoke, and then the inner cover. The hive tool–a miniature crowbar is used to to r pry the parts of the hive apart– frames are lifted out and inspected. We discover–some nectar in the top box, the second box is loaded with honey but no brood. We stopped there–the last time we inspected brood the queen flew away.
No varroa mites, no hive beetles and a box full of honey—we didn’t turn the doorway to the smaller opening but it is still 80 degrees during the day—
But look at the pollen the girls are bringing back into the hive–all to feed the brood in the spring.
More photos are here: https://sylviaweirphotos.smugmug.com/Bees/
Sylvia Weir Art 
Great photo of the pollen!