Flying Ant 'event' right across the village

7th July 2022 - at 18:05 precisely!!

Andy and Polly M were out in the garden (in Lewis Crescent) at around 6pm yesterday, enjoying a warm and windless evening.  Then at 18:05 precisely, we noticed a column of Flying Ants rising into the air from a nest in the back garden. Then suddenly, as if some unheard order had been given, there were flying ants everywhere, pouring out of a dozen or more different nests spread across both our front and back gardens. All starting to fly at exactly the same time, and within 15-20 minutes it was all over! Not an ant to be seen!  How so many nests were so precisely synchronized I have no idea - amazing!

Interestingly, afterwards I learned from David F that he too had noticed flying ants appearing at 6pm along Bourn Bridge Road - at precisely the same time - more than a mile away!

Soon afterwards we spotted two Kestrel circling high overhead and five Swift, I assume cashing in on the feast, as well as a Great Spotted Woodpecker picking up stragglers from the lawn. We've also had a Green Woodpecker around in the garden over the past few days too, so it seems they'd spotted something was about to happen.