Flying ant day

Is it happening? I’ve spotted two of the cagey little sods in the garden over the last few hours.

Leeds, UK, potentially antmageddon.

Definitely today in East Anglia!

saw one today in northants.

But last week i saw several and was expecting a full on invasion but nothing came of it here

One of the great wonders of the world

Daughter tells me it’s happening in Fife where she is with grandparents. She’s particularly blessed as we had La Journée des Fournis Volantes in Brittany ten days ago too.

Nah, was a few weeks back

Not had it yet in Derbyshire

My Aunty was commenting on a flock of seagulls hanging around and said they’re plucking flying insects out of the sky. Could it be them? Last week, chesterfield.

Yes, new holes and small mounds of sand appeared on the block-paved driveway today, along with lots of the blighters.

Mid Derbyshire.

I saw one, about a week ago.

Yes, yesterday here in Eastbourne. Quite surreal sight of thousands of seagulls overhead barely making a sound. Takes something to keep those buggers quiet.

Seen a couple of them over the last day or so. Could be precursors to the main event?

Saw some evidence yesterday, but looked like they were prepping not actually flying. It’s coming soon!

We were sat in the garden a few weeks back and the pesky little buggers kept landing on us. And then yesterday after a ride, sat in the pub and a few dropped on the table. Maybe climate change has confused the insect world and means we get more than one flying ant day a year now…

Had some in North London about a week ago but nothing like the amount from a few years ago.  It’s quite normal to have more than one instance of flying ant day in any given Summer IME.

I just remember the 70s in the school playground, on a particularly humid day, there would be millions of em. Yesterday wasn’t very humid, so maybe thats why it was a token effort.

Some interesting facts here including the one about a queen ant living for 28 years. Bearing in mind that she would have only mated once

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/when-why-winged-ants-swarm-nuptial-flight.html

Daughter tells me it’s happening in Fife where she is with grandparents. She’s particularly blessed as we had La Journée des Fournis Volantes in Brittany ten days ago too.

Confirmed Sunday.

Sitting in a friend’s garden yesterday evening and there were thousands of the buggers coming out of the dry stone boundary wall. Seemed to be three main exit points but at each one there was a literal pile of flying ants all being serviced by non-flying ones racing around in their midst too. It was fascinating to watch although a significant part of me wanted to run off and get a can of Raid.

There was a barbecue going on in the next door garden as well so maybe the smoke from that had disturbed them a bit too.

Yesterday early evening we had a steady stream of them coming out where the patio joins the grass.

Well it didn’t come to anything but I’ve just spotted quite a few and a load of standard ants running around. I’m getting nervous.

Possibly flying ant related in that I can’t imagine they’re not feeding on them. Currently have about fifty what I thought initially were herons circling above my house, but had my doubts as I don’t think they’re flock birds? Please tell me otherwise. With a bit of Google I’m fairly certain they’re storks which is even more surprising. Got a few pics on the phone but probably not good enough to I’d from.

Nice kettle

I’m fairly certain they’re storks

Where are you? In the last 600 years the only place in Britain there have been storks has been Sussex and Surrey.

Yep, East Sussex.

Apparently a large flock of the West Sussex birds were seen over Cornwall recently so they’re obviously getting around on their summer holidays.

Ah, interesting. There are apparently about 250 storks in Sussex/Surrey now. I think it all started about 20 years ago at the Knepp estate.

And totally coincidentally I am going to the Knepp estate for the first time tomorrow. Hope to see some storks, if they haven’t all gone on a tour of Southern England!

Enjoy. Zoomed in a bit and think I can be pretty certain they are stork. Was a pretty cool sight, they’re a big bird.

Wow. It always makes makes my day when on a bike ride I see red kites soaring above me, especially when there are several. Seeing a group of storks flying like that ^^ would definitely be special.

Jeezus I get a bit emotional when I hear the honking of Canada geese and then look up to see them flying low in formation overhead, no idea why!

Many years ago, I was biking in the Coxley Valley in West Yorkshire and looked up to see what I initially thought was a Heron, but then realised Heron’s fly with their neck curled back. Stopped and looked up to confirm it was a Stork. Turns out a pair had nested not far away for the first time in 600 years !

Just googled it – it was 2004 !!!