On 12/10/08 17:27, in article , "Malcolm"
wrote:


In article , Sacha
writes
They're dashing about all over the place. Isn't this rather later than
usual? We've had warm days and chilly nights for a while now and there have
been lots of mozzies and gnats about. Could it be they're making up for
lost feeding time, due to the cold, wet summer? I may be wrong but I don't
recall seeing them this late in the year before.

I've seen both pipistrelles and long-eared bats out around Christmas -
and I must be about 350 miles north of you! It's much more to do with
temperature than time of year. Both of these species will wake up if it
turns a bit mild whereas some other species seem to stay in a deeper
torpor and so don't break their hibernation period.

Ah, that's interesting and thank you to you and all who answered this.
Obviously, my thanks are to all the others who've replied with information.
I couldn't look for bats tonight as we had our Harvest Festival service
followed by Supper here but I should think it was an ideal evening for bats
to be feeding. It's absolutely still, lots of insects are still about and
it's so warm that I wore linen trousers and tunic to church. Despite some
rather gloomy forecasts from those who think they can predict weather months
in advance, we have been having wonderful weather. Yesterday and today had
what I call 'Chinese mornings' here - the mist is so settled on low ground
that higher bits and pieces pop up out of it like those Chinese paintings.
The beauty is indescribable - at least by me - and it makes me realise how
lucky we are to have seasons, however unpredictable. These are golden days.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
(new website online)