Yesterday, windy and cool - but the bees were active. I (stupidly didn't pay attention to Beemaster's Advice :roll: ) opened the hive without the smoker and TRIED to pull a frame out of the endside. The frames (all of them) were waxed tight, but unknown to me BURR COMB had glued the bottom of the frame I was pulling out tight against the top of the frame below.
I finally pryed it loose but a side bar and the bottom of the frame came loose and in the removal process, a dozen bees attacked my face with a vengence.
I hurt for two hours, most the stings were around my eyes and NONE were in me more than a second or two, but I got some serious swelling (first stings of the year are needed to build up tolerance).
Then the tough part, trying to get the frame back in - and here they came again. I still didn't have the smoker handy and thought I could get in-and-out with it. I did the best I could, recovered with the inner cover and put the blasted top back on - I'll fix it later on a less windy day in full garb.
I think though that THESE BEES this season are a bit more agressive than they were last - I have entered the hive MANY TIMES without presmoking and this was just horrible with HUNDREDS in flight in just a seconds time.
So C2 (Colony Two) will be closely followed and a new queen may JUST be the thing it needs to calm them down. But first, listen to my own suggestions and get out the smokers: a dog may be Man's best friend, but a SMOKE is a BEEKEEPERS!!!!