Sometime starting around 1 pm from what I've noticed. The drones usually leave around noon.

 

It depends on the time of year and daily temps. In my area this time of year, drone flights begin to pick up around 4-4:30 and go till about 6. There is activity before and after this time frame, but that is the peak.

 

It seems more by temperature and sunshine than by the clock. But sometime between noon and 2pm is pretty typical When you see the drones flying out to the DCAs it's likely to be shortly after that.

 

The guy that owns the land where a bunch of nucs are at said he saw a lot of activity around 4 or 5. I was thinking it was a mating flight

 

Here in central Arizona, my boys all come home between 3:30 and 4:00 in the afternoon. I haven't been around when they were sneaking out so can't tell you that part.