Could be the mosquito species Aedes punctor, a photo of which is at [url=http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/flies%20p1.html] - sorry I'm unsure how to insert a link
As for Blandford Fly, it's immortalised as a damn fine beer produced in Dorset - though the name's now been changed to Blandford Flyer for some reason which probably involved a marketing consultant

-- Edited by dave broome on Friday 28th of March 2014 09:44:44 PM

From what I remember my mother & father in law telling me the "Blandford Fly" is native to that area only coming from the river Stour in mid summer, apparently giving really nasty bites ( unless it bit her of course ) they were from Dorset.

Jonathan. Definitely not a sheep tick. There are none in this area. Loads of horses, but no sheep.

John. Yours sound more likely and rather like what my brother saw. I wonder what they are? There was something on Google about a 'Blandford fly' from a few years back, but this appeared to be from a story in mid summer and talked about humidity being a factor. Looks like I need to carry repellant about everywhere in future.

Thanks guys.

Andy Bissitt wrote:

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I've tried to let this go, but I can't. I went out birding/insecting a couple of Wednesdays ago (12th) down the Poise Brook area, Goyt Valley, Stockport. It was a brilliant sunny day after several days of the same. When I got home, I became aware of a five-pence sized red rash on my forearm. I had felt nothing bite me, but it was obviously from an insect of some kind. Over the next 10-12 days it became larger, itchy and very irritating, before just remaining as a red leision over the last couple of days (I do react badly to insect bites). Has anyone else come across anything similar recently? There shouldn't really be horse flies and probably not biting mosquitoes as early as March 12th in the U.K. Is this another sign of global warming? My brother, who works outdoors, also had a few bites on the same day in a different area (of Cheshire), and thought he saw a small dark housefly-like insect doing the deed. I have looked on Google without any luck, but I'd love to be prepared next time if this is some kind of new 'danger' we must expect when out and about in early spring. Just so this has a bit more of a birdy flavour to it, I had a good count of 10 stock doves at Goyt Hall Farm.

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Sheep tick? They're tiny when not engorged with blood and can be scratched off.

I had the same at penny just over 3 weeks ago ,leaning on the post at top of rammies watching the cetti's warbler, felt something on the side of my hand, and there was a tiny thin black fly and it seemed to have punched several tiny holes in a circle ,over the next hour little lumps appeared and in the next week or so this turned into large lumps, like several small horsefly bites, itchy as hell, and even though I cleaned it regularly with antiseptic wipes it stayed with me until a few days ago-never had that before at this time of year, the fly was like a mini mosquito.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 26th of March 2014 07:30:42 AM

I've tried to let this go, but I can't. I went out birding/insecting a couple of Wednesdays ago (12th) down the Poise Brook area, Goyt Valley, Stockport. It was a brilliant sunny day after several days of the same. When I got home, I became aware of a five-pence sized red rash on my forearm. I had felt nothing bite me, but it was obviously from an insect of some kind. Over the next 10-12 days it became larger, itchy and very irritating, before just remaining as a red leision over the last couple of days (I do react badly to insect bites). Has anyone else come across anything similar recently? There shouldn't really be horse flies and probably not biting mosquitoes as early as March 12th in the U.K. Is this another sign of global warming? My brother, who works outdoors, also had a few bites on the same day in a different area (of Cheshire), and thought he saw a small dark housefly-like insect doing the deed. I have looked on Google without any luck, but I'd love to be prepared next time if this is some kind of new 'danger' we must expect when out and about in early spring. Just so this has a bit more of a birdy flavour to it, I had a good count of 10 stock doves at Goyt Hall Farm.