There are several groups of flies that fly adventitiously on warm
winter days (at least here on the coast). Most are small midges and
gnats that swarm in clouds and feed kinglets and winter warblers.
But I suspect that Bob is talking about the more typical large flies.
The GOLDEN DUNG FLIES (_Scathophaga stercoraria_) is the easiest to
identify and is common in winter where there are cows or elk. Perhaps
the reason pipits are so fond of cow pastures.
There are also several species of saprophagous blow flies that all
look more or less the same that can be found, often sunning themselves
on the warm side of buildings near farm buildings and places near
garbage cans or dead things. If you happen upon a phoebe or a Palm
Warbler, there's a fair chance they're going for these.
None of these fun facts are meant to take anything away from Bob's
larger point that the climate is, indeed, changing.
--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
That question...
http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/northcoastdiaries/?p=3294
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