Jul 25, 2009
Flying Ant Day 2009
Over the last 9+ years, it’s become a bit of a habit to record the passing of the year in this blog via the medium of when the flying ants come out to play. It’s the closest we get to a nature diary round these parts, and is still the best reason I’ve got for keeping this blog going for such a long time.
The last few years have seen a more thorough record of the phenomenon, traced through the witness statements of others and increasingly, via social media signals.
As in previous years, the date seems to be geographically clustered, and after an early flurry of early risers at the end of June, I can now confirm that it does, indeed, appear to be Flying Ant Day in London.
In fact, so confident am I now about the timekeeping of the little winged bastards and their habitual parade, during yesterday’s torrential rain I Twittered that I confidently predicted that today would be Flying Ant Day in London - it’s the right date range, they usually come out on a hot day after rain - and lo and behold, I was right. Woo!
| Year | FAD London SW14 | FAD elsewhere |
| 2000 | 21 July | |
| 2001 | 23 July | |
| 2002 | 26 July | |
| 2003 | 27 July | |
| 2004 | 22 July | 6 July (West London) 17 July (West London, Hackney, Manor Park, Roy Bridge) 27 July (Didcot) |
| 2005 | 29 July | 12 July (West London) 2 August (Mill Hill) |
| 2006 | 12 July | 12 July (Enfield) Teddington) 17 July (West Sussex, West London) 26 July ILondon SE14) |
| 2007 | 19 July | 8 July Nottingham 13 July (West Sussex) 14 July (East Sussex) 15 July (Portsmouth, Harrow, East London, West London, West Berkshire, Oxford, Verwood, Dorset, Kent, Crawley, Reading) 16 July (Romford, Dublin) 17 July (Heysham, Lancashire) 19 July (Derby, Derby, Walsall, Bermondsey, Marlborough) |
| 2008 | 22 July | 22 July (EC1 - my workplace), Kent - via Hg, Wood Lane W12 - via Cliff & lmg, E11 - via tomskerous, NW5 - via Girlwithaonetrackmind, W14 Barons Court - via ChrisL |
| 2009 | 25 July | SW13/SW14, Finsbury Park |
So we can see that the slight anomolies of early sightings we experienced in the last few years have now been corrected, and we’re back in the range of 2004.
This year, as last, I’ve been tickled by the number of people who IMed/twittered/emailed me directly to let me know when they saw the little flying feckers, because (in the words of one) they now associate FAD with me. Thanks! (I think)
Let me know if you’ve seen them in your area and I’ll update the table…
They’re definitely in Hammersmith/Shepherds Bush today.
Sighted in Richmond and twickenham
Yup, I spotted one on the pavement of Kingsland Road earlier today (E2).
And in Finsbury Park.
Saw a small isolated batch emerging from a crack in the ground on Thursday, but today there’s a plague.
Yeah, you are indeed Flying Ant Woman. I can’t see them now without thinking of you.
They are out in force this afternoon in Surbiton, KT6
And affirmative in East Dulwich SE22
Definitely took flight today in Oxford. A friend can also confirm Reading.
They are all over Bramhall in Stockport, Greater Manchester, the cars on my road are full of fling ants, how weird!!
They were in Ealing W5 on the 14th, hardly any today compared to then!
Windsor and Staines were swarmed with them today.
you’re amazing-they were all over our pub in chorleywood!!
Saw them walking around Fulham Road area (Maybe it should be ‘Walking Ants That Have Wings Day’?)
I saw a solitary one this evening in Newark, Notts but reckon tomorrow will be the big day up here!!!
Brixton Market went nuts today with the little mofos. And brockwell park!
16th July was FAD in Bedford, UK this year :)
25th July - At the end of our road in Portsmouth PO2
My kids loved it and only 1 month after a Honey Bee swarm settled in the neighbours front garden.
Saturday 25th was FAD in Loughborough and Leicester too. :)
Saturday 25th was also FAD in South Buckinghamshire.
25th July was FAD in Cheshire this year.
Very active day for the little pests 27/7/09 in gateshead .
Think most of them decended on my house.
[...] other recent highlights: she tracks the occurrence of “Flying Ant Day” with uncanny accuracy; she ruminates on the concept of time tourism (which I have discussed [...]
they have spawned nearly every colony on the 4th of August 2009
Flying ants galore in Barnham, West Sussex today, Tuesday 4th August
August 5th 2009 - Flying Ant Day in Bristol UK,
We did have a few back in late-June/early-July but nothing is bad as this; I’m staying in the office for lunch today :S
It’s FAD in Bristol today. And Taunton, apparently.
Am surrounded by them at my allotment right now down in Godalming, Surrey.
Flying ant day up in Wakefield, West Yorkshire today also
FAD- Nottingham today.
Just got covered in them :o(
It’s FAD in Edgware, Middlesex today.
In Northamptonshire today is the day for the FLANTS!
Flying ants in Exeter (Devon) today.
Had loads of rain overnight, cleared by about 2pm, sun came out, temperatures went up and those little pesky sods came out in their thousands - Swindon, Wilts!!!! Why do they come out after rain and when it turns warm - there must be a reason?
Flying ants seen Edinburgh on 6th August 2009