Thirsty Bees

What's new in the bee yard? I checked on the hives a couple of days ago to take off the entrance reducers and give them pollen patties. They're getting pollen from the filberts and pussy willows but the weather is still so variable (sun, rain, snow, wind...) that they don't have consistent access to it so a pollen patty is a little insurance until spring really is here. When the dandelions are blooming, they'll be really happy but that will probably be another month.
Cam's hive looks pretty good, about 6 frames covered with bees and the dysentery seems to be gone. Toby's hive seems to be going crazy! That queen has been laying and the population is exploding. I have to make sure they don't eat all of their honey. When I took the top box off, bees just started pouring out from the inner cover hole. So many that I couldn't put the box back on without squishing a bunch so I left it off. I think that hive will want to swarm if I don't split it next month. I need to research that.
The bees are collecting lots of water for some reason. The two pie pans I set out are covered with dozens of bees so I added a third. I don't know what they need all that water for. Are they just bored? Thirsty? Foragers with no nectar to collect? I have no idea.