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David Eyre wrote:
 
> As an aside to Tony's remarks I have a concern. With the massive flows we've
> had all summer our wintering hives don't appear as large as usual.
>         We are putting our hives to bed and noticed the clusters are smaller
> than normal. I think the massive flows have plugged the hives more than
> normal and prevented the usual amout of brood production.
> So I wonder if they will winter well? Lots of stores though.
>         Anyone else with smaller clusters?
 
I have the opposite observation.  Many of my colonies still have not
gotten small enough to fit inside the hive, even with night temperatures
in the 40'sF.  I agree with you, though, that they surely have enough
stores.  Because I have to harvest in mid-August  due to varroa control,
the enormous fall flow this year has all gone to stores.  Maybe the
cluster has to sit outside because they don't have extra cells to crawl
into, since they are all filled with honey.
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA