I've done it with no newspaper and it worked out just fine, but I did it in spring/early summer, never this time of year at the beginning of fall. I never used newspaper, and did not put obstructions in front of the entrance. Hopefully it works as well for you as it has for me, the very few times I've done it.
My reasoning goes like this...
The bees above an excluder are working in the honey storage area of the hive, and do not participate in the brood nest activities of the hive like nurse bees and house bees do. They are somewhat of a separate set of bees and do not go through the politics of the brood nest area near the hive entrance. My thinking is that they won't go through the security checking that other bees coming in do, and they are coming in with a full super of stores that they are managing. I figure it should be seen as a good benefit to the accepting hive and pass all judgement.
My reasoning goes like this...
The bees above an excluder are working in the honey storage area of the hive, and do not participate in the brood nest activities of the hive like nurse bees and house bees do. They are somewhat of a separate set of bees and do not go through the politics of the brood nest area near the hive entrance. My thinking is that they won't go through the security checking that other bees coming in do, and they are coming in with a full super of stores that they are managing. I figure it should be seen as a good benefit to the accepting hive and pass all judgement.