Checked mine today, same exact thing. Italians, sugared them up a month ago, today there was about 2# of sugar, some honey and nectar in the bottom medium. Maybe 30 bees left, clinging to the middle, a few face down in the comb. I wonder if I just didn't feed them enough, early enough in the fall.
Which begs a question:
During the bloom, various other bees (wild, many fuzzy black and yellow, etc) but very few of mine were working the flowers (rhodies, fruit trees, yard plants, etc). Mine were, however, building comb and bringing in pollen (and I presume nectar) at the time. Were they too picky? Too much competition?
I'll give it another go in the spring, and just plan on feeding as much as they'll take starting in September. I'm letting the rain wash off the sugar and broken honeycomb, then freeze the frames for a head start come April.
-T