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Midges 2017

Re: Midges 2017

Postby mmm_biscuit » Tue May 23, 2017 2:42 pm

Just back from a week up near Achnasheen. Didn't see many about, and it's definitely not at full-midge-horror levels yet, but the few that did find me were really bitey - eg popped out to put a bike in the car one still evening and got bitten five times in as many minutes. (They do love me though - I'm like a midge beacon).
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby Fiona Reid » Tue May 23, 2017 2:57 pm

They are most definitely now awake and biting in the central belt. I'm sporting various bites from walking along the old railway track out from Straiton to Roslin and Rosyth last week. Guessing they'll be out in force in the Highlands very soon :(
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby BlackPanther » Tue May 23, 2017 3:34 pm

No midges in Sutherland on Sunday, but quite a few ticks :? :?
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby KieronB » Wed May 24, 2017 2:59 pm

Caberfeidh wrote:Tarbert, Loch Lomond yesterday. A still, warm, muggy, damp afternoon. The midgies arrived and bit, feeding happily on my corpuscles. They're here! The Horror! The Horror! Time to take up deep sea diving off Antarctica. :shock:

Ah shoot, heading up towards Ben Lomond on Sunday, here's hoping they all mysteriously vanish between now and then :lol:
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby Old Bill » Fri May 26, 2017 3:47 pm

I was just up Glen Nevis this week, and in the rain and mist Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they were rife.

But I only got bitten on the bum when answering a call of nature, my face being protected by plenty of Deety-type spray, but they were still buzzing round so much I ended up resorting to the hood that I've taken with my dozens of times but never bothered to get it out. Totally recommended - Gythral's jacket isn't such a daft idea!

Image

And pleasingly quite a few seemed mortally attracted to the lid of my pan whilst cooking tea.... :-)

Image

But the odd thing is on Thursday with the glorious sunshine, there were none. Certainly up until about 11am which is when I struck camp - I even had my shirt off! (I won't post a picture of that...)

So can it be too hot for them? Or are they not morning people...?

OB
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby mrssanta » Fri May 26, 2017 11:45 pm

they don't like sunshine.
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby Mal Grey » Sat May 27, 2017 12:15 am

mrssanta wrote:they don't like sunshine.


Indeed. Which is why the little biters live in Scotland I guess...... :lol:
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby Old Bill » Sat May 27, 2017 9:38 am

You learn something new.... etc - I was reading up on them on Wikipedia last night! Apparently they can go as far as 1km from their breeding ground too. Quite how someone measured that I don't know, but very interesting!

ob
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby larry groo » Sat May 27, 2017 7:13 pm

Camped in Glen Ey last night.

Not too breezy and a fine humid evening, nothing really to mention at all. I'm sure they're not far away.

We were both surprised... and pleased. :D
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby Alteknacker » Sun May 28, 2017 12:25 am

They were pretty voracious in Kinlochleven on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday....
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby Lightfoot2017 » Mon May 29, 2017 9:38 am

Was up in Assynt at the weekend, bagging Conival and Ben More. Camped at the side of Loch Assynt near Ardvreck Castle. Glorious sunshine .... 27degrees. :shock: :D

Mostly midge-free during the day, but quite a few of the little buggers in the evening when it got cooler. But a few squirts of Avon Skin So Soft seemed to do the trick. :wink:
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby Caberfeidh » Mon May 29, 2017 9:52 am

I reckon it's the lull before the storm. The little vampyres are seething in their squillions in the boglands, taking advantage of this warm, muggy weather. They're sharpening their fangs and the older ones will be showing the younger ones all the right grips.
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby kaye.cantlay » Mon May 29, 2017 10:59 am

There were PLENTY of midges in Wales this weekend.....
And although I'd packed smidge, I was completely unable to locate it until we got back home.
Bites galore.
:-(
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby Robinho08 » Mon May 29, 2017 7:09 pm

Midges present and biting in the North West. :(
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Re: Midges 2017

Postby BlackPanther » Tue May 30, 2017 9:22 am

Glenfinnian area, Sunday the 28th: down in the forest, swarms. Up on the ridge, zilch. So as soon as we hit the higher ground we were OK. But walking through the woods was something else and I forgot to pack my deet :? :? I'm still scratching myself now!

I think the midge season is open.
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