pollen coming in

[flathead]

Hello all. Been reading and learning here for a few weeks now. Great stuff.

I have 7 colonies all started this spring. Since this is my first experience with bees, all is new to me. I have been watching and trying to get a feel of fall/winter conditions here. We had pollen coming in through Thanksgiving and robbing on and off. Feeding sugar syrup in top feeders and have entrances reduced. Had some cold weather last week with low down to 23F and heavy frost. Warmed up lately and the bees are flying most all day till dusk.
Today I spent a few minutes closely watching 3 or 4 hives with normal activity. Then I realized that there was pollen coming in still. Not large pellets but pollen. Maybe 2 out of 10 bees returning had some pollen. All hives in my yard were(appeared) normal, that is they were not under attack.

I said all of that to ask this.
Is it possible/likely that what I am seeing on returning bees is robbed pollen? Or put another way, when bees rob or are feed pollen out in the yard, do they carry the pollen in the pollen sacs?

[power napper]

Welcome to forum flathead--
Is it possible/likely that what I am seeing on returning bees is robbed pollen--
In my opinion the bees are finding pollen or a bird feeder with dust or cattle feed powder etc., most likely it is pollen.

[Walliebee]

I agree that the girls are still gathering pollen, esp. in your climate. Here in NC, we had 16 degrees F last week, yet new flowers on Camellias, Pansies, Wintersweet, and Winter Honeysuckle have opened. While it's not the pollen frenzy that comes in the spring, I do see some coming in. Plus they will gather other 'odd' substances that has some protein or useful value.

[Black Creek]

i have dandelions here and there blooming in my area right now. could it be them?

[suprstakr]

what seemes everyone is bypasing is yhe lonely pansies. They can take a lot of cold and theyr polen is bright orange , Check your neighberhood and see if anyone has some planted.