How to use the online timer
You have finished one circuit of the hives and started the countdown again, using the next fifteen minutes to check anything missed before returning to the planned beds. Keep this second pass narrow: look at entrances, note activity and inspect the ground around each stand rather than reopening every hive without a clear reason.
While you move between hives, wind, traffic, a mower on a neighbouring allotment or the buzz around an open colony can mask the signal. Keep the phone close enough to hear, with its volume checked before your hands are occupied. If it must stay in a pocket, choose one that does not muffle the speaker; if you are wearing ear protection for nearby machinery, rely on vibration as well.
On the repeated circuit, use your earlier notes to divide the timed spell between specific hives instead of retracing every observation. If the first run showed nothing unusual, concentrate on access, shade and how each stand fits the future bed layout. Stop when the signal sounds and record any hive that needs a separate, unhurried inspection later.
Common questions
What could make the second timed inspection of the hives run longer?
Cold, drizzle or gusty weather can make bee activity harder to judge and slow movement across a muddy plot. Use the interval for external checks only, then leave uncertain observations for a suitable day.
What if the hive and bed-area check finishes before the timed spell ends?
Use the remaining time to compare notes from both circuits and mark where paths, beds or hive access may conflict. There is no need to open a colony merely to fill the interval.
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