Such a dismal day and yet one of the Koberstein's nucs swarmed today. Went high in a tree and then gone. We put out a bait hive with a frame of honey in it but that doesn't guarantee anything (except that robber bees will find it and enjoy it). No bees went near it the hour I was there.
The hive they swarmed from had two deeps on it but at least half of it wasn't even drawn out. They didn't run out of space. They didn't put the swarm cells on the bottom of combs in the top box the way they usually do. They were in the middle of the frames of the bottom box. There were still lots and lots of bees. Sara filmed the swarm.
Her second nuc was packed, perhaps six frames both sides covered with capped brood and several more partials, lots of eggs and larva. We shook the bees off every frame and found only one queen CUP with royal jelly in it. We destroyed every cup. She'll check in a week.
I got an email and picture of another swarm that ended up in someone's yard this afternoon. One of our beekeepers is on his way.
It seems like a dreary day to swarm. Be forewarned. They swarm even though they have space and they aren't putting the swarm cells where they are supposed to!