At some point every birder discovers red ants, usually when on sandy soil located near water. The worst encounter with fire ants for me occurred on a beach trying to photograph shorebirds, specifically killdeer chicks captured while prostrate on the sand with by midriff smack dab in the middle of a colony of ants, which I didn't see because I was watching the chicks. They got under my shirt and around the belt line. To this day it still itches, on occasion, although it is probably psychological. They were all over my shoes once while photographing a GBH and also when trying to get a few frames of a group of Whimbrel that just flew in and landed on the beach, albeit an arrival event that happened after I left the beachfront and was walking away. I caught sight of the flock because I exercised rule #7 (always look behind you) and then immediately returned to the beach (then at the risk of spooking them) and got down with the ants because I forgot rule #11 (look down before you sit). Come to think of it, I got stung by a bee at that beach too and had to drive to the nearest convenience store for a Popsicle to lay on the sting to reduce swelling. The lake water wasn't cold enough, although I did try that first.
So, be careful ... the bugs are out there ... and if you're not careful ... they come and get you ... na, ha, ha.
