I gather the hive in question is not in site. My bees when foraging do a slight zig-zag, I presume to directionalize the smell (honey bees have 2000 receptors for smell and can find a single apple tree 2 miles away). Sight foraging has wider pattern and usually is done during bright light times of the day. On return to the hive the flight is usually straight. Some have told me that the return flight is also lower then foraging flights but I have not gotten into it that far. - Mike