Bees flying in January?

Today we saw the bees doing something they've never done before.  Since our temperatures reached the mid 50's, apparently it was enough to wake the bees up and send them outdoors.

Look, here they are trying to find a way to get into our hot tub.  Not quite sure what it was they were looking for..water, warmth, steam...who knows?

So we opened the cover, to give them access, a little worried of what we might find.  Some of them had  already wrangled their way underneath the insulated cover and were clinging to the edge, seemingly, enjoying themselves.  By 5 o'clock, just before sunset, all but three that needed to be prodded, had  flown off.

This is January 23, right, the middle of winter?  I don't think I've ever seen bees out and about at this time of year.  There's always something that makes you go...'hmm'.