To start - my hives are in the Central Valley and during the last 2 Decembers I have observed the errant poppy and star thistle blooming... so I think many of the observations which have been trending over years are worth noting
1 - Drones in November flying and returning to the hives
2 - Swarms in September and October natural and a couple of my hives
3- Mites being very difficult to control, I treated for mites in August, September, October, and November, rotating through various treatments (other commercial guys I know had a similar experience this year)
4 - Late development of winter bees (the larger fat bees), in the past they would start to be present in late September, this past year I did not really start to seem them until November
5 - Because of the ongoing mite assault I had an on going virus issue
6 - Experienced increased queen failure from August to September
1 - Drones in November flying and returning to the hives
2 - Swarms in September and October natural and a couple of my hives
3- Mites being very difficult to control, I treated for mites in August, September, October, and November, rotating through various treatments (other commercial guys I know had a similar experience this year)
4 - Late development of winter bees (the larger fat bees), in the past they would start to be present in late September, this past year I did not really start to seem them until November
5 - Because of the ongoing mite assault I had an on going virus issue
6 - Experienced increased queen failure from August to September