|
 | | 
22-07-2008, 04:03 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,561
| | | 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 |
22-07-2008, 04:11 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London
Posts: 2,067
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Saw two batches here in Central London this afternoon |
22-07-2008, 04:18 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sheffield, FPRSY
Posts: 5,092
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
We seem to have two parallel threads on the same thing here .....  Ant Swarms
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. |
22-07-2008, 04:28 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,547
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Ditto North Kent. The gulls are out in force snapping them out of the air.
__________________
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
22-07-2008, 04:32 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,561
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Ah yes. Soz.
Just saw the other thread!
I really must read titles!
TBR |
22-07-2008, 05:35 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hidden in the clover
Posts: 1,561
| | | 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  |
22-07-2008, 06:03 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2,843
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Not flying ant day here yet, maybe to-morrow, it is always a warm day in July  |
22-07-2008, 06:04 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent
Posts: 1,559
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Not seen any flying Ants in Chatham (kent) yet but loads of Ants are running riot in the garden.
__________________
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. |
22-07-2008, 06:07 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: N.E. Derbyshire
Posts: 1,742
| | | 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 |
22-07-2008, 06:54 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Nr Lincoln Lincs
Posts: 574
| | | 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  
__________________
If I'd known having grandchildren was so much fun, I'd have had them first !! |
22-07-2008, 08:43 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: in Essex
Posts: 891
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Had flying ants here in south Essex this afternoon
ellen
__________________
You can't beat nature! |
22-07-2008, 08:48 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,837
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
I've seen one swarm as well, no swifts though 
__________________
'Experience and wisdom is what is left after you make a mistake' |
22-07-2008, 09:03 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Northants
Posts: 1,015
| | | 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 |
22-07-2008, 09:12 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,837
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Here's some of those I saw today, now in the Gallery 
__________________
'Experience and wisdom is what is left after you make a mistake' |
22-07-2008, 09:31 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the edge of Romney Marsh, Kent
Posts: 896
| | | 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 |
22-07-2008, 09:32 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ryde Isle of Wight
Posts: 69
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green  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.... |
22-07-2008, 09:36 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,837
| |  Re: Flying ant day 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanderling ...Swifts will be away back to Africa early next month | I'll miss them
__________________
'Experience and wisdom is what is left after you make a mistake' |
22-07-2008, 09:39 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 13
| | | 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 |
22-07-2008, 09:41 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,837
| |  Re: Flying ant day 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by jack** 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...
__________________
'Experience and wisdom is what is left after you make a mistake' |
23-07-2008, 01:43 AM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the edge of Romney Marsh, Kent
Posts: 896
| | | 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 |
23-07-2008, 07:57 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2,843
| | | 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 |
23-07-2008, 09:52 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4
| | 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 |
23-07-2008, 10:41 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2,843
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Flying Ant Day has arrived here to-day  |
23-07-2008, 10:47 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 4
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
Great! Whereabouts exactly in Suffolk? |
23-07-2008, 10:50 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Deepest Dorset
Posts: 720
| | | Re: Flying ant day 2008
none here yet. | | | |
| Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
| | |
