In doing your fall preparation for winterizing your bees don't do a quick look in the top to see if there are a lot of bees.  I would advise you to check the brood chamber to make sure that there is capped brood and that the queen is there and laying.  If you are short on stores feed as much as they will take and place a winter patty on the top bars so they will have something to feed on.  If winter time temperature allows check for food stores and add winter patties as needed.