Swarming or orientation

[Nugget Shooter]

What are the key differences in swarming practice as opposed to orientation in the afternoon, just more bees than normal (big hive) and wide circles and seems more excited than normal. Thanks....

[Perry]

Not too sure about "swarming practice"? It's not something I have heard of or witnessed myself. Swarms and orientation flights are completely different, way more bees in a swarm, and they don't hang out that close to the hive like they do on orientation flights but seem to travel further and further.

[Nugget Shooter]

Thank you Perry, I have read about it somewhere and just seemed more bees than I have ever seen doing orientation. It did clear up after about 30 minutes and back to a busy normal.

[CBT]

Did it look like this I call it a test swarm. I split them that day.

[Mikey N.C.]

Nug. Had a hive doing same posted pics. on 101 (bathroom break)
It swarmed the next day.  Splitt hive and it swarmed 2 more times.

[Nugget Shooter]

Did look similar, opened it up and added a second honey super as they had their first almost full. All seems normal today...... Did not look into lowers and perhaps I should have?

[Nugget Shooter]

Looks like they may have swarmed yesterday sometime as there is much less activity forager wise entering and leaving the hive this morning. Hope they didn't empty the honey super so should I just leave them alone for a spell now? They will be raising a new queen now so not a good idea to open the double deep brood boxes?

[Some Day]

To me the orientation flights look like the bees are doing figure 8's close to the hive.  Swarming from hive the bees remind me of a dust devil in formation, going around in circles and higher in the air and are much more agitated.

[CBT]

Nugget, great time to rob some queen cells and split some other hives to increase your numbers.