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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 22-07-2008, 04:03 PM
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Flying ant day 2008

Here in west Berks, the flying ants have errupted out of the ground this afternoon - no surprise really, they've been waiting for these sticky conditions.
Anywhere else?
TBR
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  #2 (permalink)  
Old 22-07-2008, 04:11 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Saw two batches here in Central London this afternoon
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Old 22-07-2008, 04:18 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

We seem to have two parallel threads on the same thing here .....
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...nt-swarms.html

When I lived in London I always expected the black ant nuptial flights at the end of the second week of July - indeed, for three years in a row in my locality they irrupted on Swithin's Day - I thought I was going to be able to write a 'rule' but it's quite variable.
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Old 22-07-2008, 04:28 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Ditto North Kent. The gulls are out in force snapping them out of the air.
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Old 22-07-2008, 04:32 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Ah yes. Soz.
Just saw the other thread!
I really must read titles!
TBR
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Old 22-07-2008, 05:35 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

A photo of one of our garden "winged beauties" this afternoon.
Not my best photo ever, but in my defence, I was lying in a seething mass of excited ants at the time.
I'm still picking them off me...!

Click thumbnail and then the image to sharpen a little.
TBR
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Old 22-07-2008, 06:03 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Not flying ant day here yet, maybe to-morrow, it is always a warm day in July
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Old 22-07-2008, 06:04 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Not seen any flying Ants in Chatham (kent) yet but loads of Ants are running riot in the garden.
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Old 22-07-2008, 06:07 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Hi

not flying here yet but the activity has increased.They are running all over so in the next two days I guess.

neil
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Old 22-07-2008, 06:54 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

we've had them in the greenhouse I'm afraid my O.H. got the Kybosh out, I hate to use it as I always think of the film 'Ants' and the love story between a worker and a royal ant, it was a true story wasn't it
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Old 22-07-2008, 08:43 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Had flying ants here in south Essex this afternoon
ellen
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Old 22-07-2008, 08:48 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

I've seen one swarm as well, no swifts though
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Old 22-07-2008, 09:03 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Saw many this evening and managed to photograph one large, winged female that stayed still long enough for me to focus the camera. Also photographed very active small male but unfortunately photo very poor.

Bruce
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Old 22-07-2008, 09:12 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Here's some of those I saw today, now in the Gallery

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Old 22-07-2008, 09:31 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

My daughter in Ashford Kent has just rung me saying there were HUGE flying ants in her kitchen and what should she do about it?

I said "that's lucky", she asked why and I replied......

"lucky it's not my kitchen" !!!! boom boom!

Naturegirl
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  #16 (permalink)  
Old 22-07-2008, 09:32 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green View Post
I've seen one swarm as well, no swifts though
....saw most Swifts this year - hundreds soaring around high over Ryde and Solent - along with gulls they were sweeping the sky of all the flying ants

Swifts will be away back to Africa early next month so there feeding up as much as they can now the warm weather has arrived and the ants and other insects are now more abundant....
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Old 22-07-2008, 09:36 PM
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Smile Re: Flying ant day 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by sanderling View Post
...Swifts will be away back to Africa early next month
I'll miss them
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Old 22-07-2008, 09:39 PM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

My kitchen was full of them today not good really. But still an interesting sight
Not the best flyers either they always seem to land on their back or in your cup of tea

Jack
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Old 22-07-2008, 09:41 PM
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Wink Re: Flying ant day 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by jack** View Post
My kitchen was full of them today not good really. But still an interesting sight
Not the best flyers either they always seem to land on their back or in your cup of tea

Jack
Swifts?! Oh sorry, flying ants...
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Old 23-07-2008, 01:43 AM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Sorry, I'm not really an uncaring mum........

But, your kids have to learn for themselves as to what to do about a natural event like this!! Can't always be there to mop up......

I have seen plenty of Swifts flying over my local every evening (really!) (It's what I go there for)...... feeding on insects. I can judge the weather by their behaviour and how high/low they are catching their prey.

Let's hope that the hot weather will ripen my tomatoes too!!!!!

Naturegirl
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Old 23-07-2008, 07:57 AM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Swifts are great entertainment at the moment, one minute really high the next very low and I love their screeching
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Old 23-07-2008, 09:52 AM
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Smile Re: Flying ant day 2008

Hi everyone

This is great that people are seeing loads of flying ants. If anyone has a camera could they possible film it as I work for a wildlife film production company and would love to use any footage people manage to capture of huge swarms. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to PM me.

Many thanks,

Matt
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  #23 (permalink)  
Old 23-07-2008, 10:41 AM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Flying Ant Day has arrived here to-day

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Old 23-07-2008, 10:47 AM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

Great! Whereabouts exactly in Suffolk?
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Old 23-07-2008, 10:50 AM
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Re: Flying ant day 2008

none here yet.
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