They really are black flies, and they bite! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_fly
I think the term "gnat" is kind of a lay term that people use for small flying things that annoy them, which would certainly include those dreaded black flies, which I try really hard to view as "bird food" and "what brings the warblers in spring." (But I rarely succeed.) "Gnats" officially come in many varieties, such as Fungus Gnats and Wood Gnats, which look nothing like black flies. Scroll down through this link to see the various groups of flies. http://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/22226 Sandy Podulka p.s. Thanks for the head net link! It looks great and REI is a terrific company to support. At 10:52 AM 5/2/2017, you wrote: >Hi all, I always thought this little black flying insect around my >face as warblers show up was black fly. Am I right? >In case they are driving you nuts, this is my solution. Best headnet >I have ever found! ><https://www.rei.com/product/102055/bens-invisinet-insect-head-net>https://www.rei.com/product/102055/bens-invisinet-insect-head-net >-- >"Life is a hard battle anyway. If we laugh and sing a little as we >fight the good fight of freedom, it makes it all go easier. I will >not allow my life's light to be determined by the darkness around >me." ~ Sojourner Truth > >Healing Hands of Ithaca >MassageIthaca.com >108 W. Buffalo Street, Ithaca,NY > >-- >Cayugabirds-L List Info: ><http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME>Welcome and Basics ><http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES>Rules and Information ><http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>Subscribe, > >Configuration and Leave >Archives: ><http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>The >Mail Archive ><http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds>Surfbirds ><http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html>BirdingOnThe.Net >Please submit your observations to <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>eBird! >-- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
