I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so
I hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides
of one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so
I hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides
of one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week. We only see pipistrelles but you could have a variety and may
possibly be lucky enough to spot a wayward Greater Horsehoe from the
big roost near Buckfastleigh.
--
rbel

On 2014-03-13 23:17:36 +0000, rbel said:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so
I hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides
of one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week. We only see pipistrelles but you could have a variety and may
possibly be lucky enough to spot a wayward Greater Horsehoe from the
big roost near Buckfastleigh.

Yes, that's very close to us as the bat flies and there are a couple of
other colonies whose whereabouts are kept secret. I don't know what
type we've got here in the shed because it's hard to see them clearly.
Occasionally, we hear them squeaking and sometimes a little head pokes
out but never when there's a camera handy!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 07:02:13 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-03-13 23:17:36 +0000, rbel said:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so
I hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides
of one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week. We only see pipistrelles but you could have a variety and may
possibly be lucky enough to spot a wayward Greater Horsehoe from the
big roost near Buckfastleigh.

Yes, that's very close to us as the bat flies and there are a couple of
other colonies whose whereabouts are kept secret. I don't know what
type we've got here in the shed because it's hard to see them clearly.
Occasionally, we hear them squeaking and sometimes a little head pokes
out but never when there's a camera handy!

As Buckfastleigh is on your doostep and if you are interested,
apparently it is worth popping along to the lane just south of
Buckfast church on a warm summer evening, just prior to dusk, to watch
the exit of the Greater Horseshoes from their main colony at Higher
Kiln Quarry and fly down the lane. An ex collegue of mine who was an
ecologist specialising in bats told me about it, said it was an
amazing sight, and your post has jogged my memory - I have just made
a note on my calendar to remind me to wander up there this summer.
--
rbel

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 11:33:07 +0000, rbel wrote:

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 07:02:13 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-03-13 23:17:36 +0000, rbel said:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so
I hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides
of one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week. We only see pipistrelles but you could have a variety and may
possibly be lucky enough to spot a wayward Greater Horsehoe from the
big roost near Buckfastleigh.

Yes, that's very close to us as the bat flies and there are a couple of
other colonies whose whereabouts are kept secret. I don't know what
type we've got here in the shed because it's hard to see them clearly.
Occasionally, we hear them squeaking and sometimes a little head pokes
out but never when there's a camera handy!

As Buckfastleigh is on your doostep and if you are interested,
apparently it is worth popping along to the lane just south of
Buckfast church on a warm summer evening, just prior to dusk, to watch
the exit of the Greater Horseshoes from their main colony at Higher
Kiln Quarry and fly down the lane. An ex collegue of mine who was an
ecologist specialising in bats told me about it, said it was an
amazing sight, and your post has jogged my memory - I have just made
a note on my calendar to remind me to wander up there this summer.

Another thought - video of the GH's flying down the lane and path at
Buckfastleigh were featured on a BBC nature programme some years ago,
presented by Oddie.
--
rbel

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 23:17:36 +0000, rbel wrote:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so I
hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides of
one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week.

They've been spotted at the farm, where they like to swoop around the
courtyard. But there are far fewer than there were 20 years ago when we
used to see veritable clouds of them on summer evenings.

They used to fly in the open bedroom window at night, I can't think when
that last happened!

-E


--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On 2014-03-14 11:33:07 +0000, rbel said:

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 07:02:13 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-03-13 23:17:36 +0000, rbel said:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so
I hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides
of one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week. We only see pipistrelles but you could have a variety and may
possibly be lucky enough to spot a wayward Greater Horsehoe from the
big roost near Buckfastleigh.

Yes, that's very close to us as the bat flies and there are a couple of
other colonies whose whereabouts are kept secret. I don't know what
type we've got here in the shed because it's hard to see them clearly.
Occasionally, we hear them squeaking and sometimes a little head pokes
out but never when there's a camera handy!

As Buckfastleigh is on your doostep and if you are interested,
apparently it is worth popping along to the lane just south of
Buckfast church on a warm summer evening, just prior to dusk, to watch
the exit of the Greater Horseshoes from their main colony at Higher
Kiln Quarry and fly down the lane. An ex collegue of mine who was an
ecologist specialising in bats told me about it, said it was an
amazing sight, and your post has jogged my memory - I have just made
a note on my calendar to remind me to wander up there this summer.

I'm not going to swear to this but I have an idea you can't just wander
up on your own. I *think* there are special evenings but I'll check
with some of our team who live there. Istr Bill Oddy showing that
flight on some tv programme.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2014-03-14 11:39:16 +0000, rbel said:

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 11:33:07 +0000, rbel wrote:

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 07:02:13 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-03-13 23:17:36 +0000, rbel said:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so
I hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides
of one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week. We only see pipistrelles but you could have a variety and may
possibly be lucky enough to spot a wayward Greater Horsehoe from the
big roost near Buckfastleigh.

Yes, that's very close to us as the bat flies and there are a couple of
other colonies whose whereabouts are kept secret. I don't know what
type we've got here in the shed because it's hard to see them clearly.
Occasionally, we hear them squeaking and sometimes a little head pokes
out but never when there's a camera handy!

As Buckfastleigh is on your doostep and if you are interested,
apparently it is worth popping along to the lane just south of
Buckfast church on a warm summer evening, just prior to dusk, to watch
the exit of the Greater Horseshoes from their main colony at Higher
Kiln Quarry and fly down the lane. An ex collegue of mine who was an
ecologist specialising in bats told me about it, said it was an
amazing sight, and your post has jogged my memory - I have just made
a note on my calendar to remind me to wander up there this summer.

Another thought - video of the GH's flying down the lane and path at
Buckfastleigh were featured on a BBC nature programme some years ago,
presented by Oddie.

Snap! ;-)
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:05:39 +0000, Sacha
wrote:

On 2014-03-14 11:33:07 +0000, rbel said:

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 07:02:13 +0000, sacha wrote:

On 2014-03-13 23:17:36 +0000, rbel said:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so
I hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides
of one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week. We only see pipistrelles but you could have a variety and may
possibly be lucky enough to spot a wayward Greater Horsehoe from the
big roost near Buckfastleigh.

Yes, that's very close to us as the bat flies and there are a couple of
other colonies whose whereabouts are kept secret. I don't know what
type we've got here in the shed because it's hard to see them clearly.
Occasionally, we hear them squeaking and sometimes a little head pokes
out but never when there's a camera handy!

As Buckfastleigh is on your doostep and if you are interested,
apparently it is worth popping along to the lane just south of
Buckfast church on a warm summer evening, just prior to dusk, to watch
the exit of the Greater Horseshoes from their main colony at Higher
Kiln Quarry and fly down the lane. An ex collegue of mine who was an
ecologist specialising in bats told me about it, said it was an
amazing sight, and your post has jogged my memory - I have just made
a note on my calendar to remind me to wander up there this summer.

I'm not going to swear to this but I have an idea you can't just wander
up on your own. I *think* there are special evenings but I'll check
with some of our team who live there. Istr Bill Oddy showing that
flight on some tv programme.

The quarry and caves are part of a Devon Wildlife Trust reserve and
are off limits unless a permit is granted by the trust. An email to
should provide the info but the path
and lane adjacent to the church are public areas, according to my one
time colleague.
--
rbel

On 2014-03-14 17:18:24 +0000, rbel said:

On Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:05:39 +0000, Sacha
wsnipetimes a little head pokes
out but never when there's a camera handy!

As Buckfastleigh is on your doostep and if you are interested,
apparently it is worth popping along to the lane just south of
Buckfast church on a warm summer evening, just prior to dusk, to watch
the exit of the Greater Horseshoes from their main colony at Higher
Kiln Quarry and fly down the lane. An ex collegue of mine who was an
ecologist specialising in bats told me about it, said it was an
amazing sight, and your post has jogged my memory - I have just made
a note on my calendar to remind me to wander up there this summer.

I'm not going to swear to this but I have an idea you can't just wander
up on your own. I *think* there are special evenings but I'll check
with some of our team who live there. Istr Bill Oddy showing that
flight on some tv programme.

The quarry and caves are part of a Devon Wildlife Trust reserve and
are off limits unless a permit is granted by the trust. An email to
should provide the info but the path
and lane adjacent to the church are public areas, according to my one
time colleague.

That's the old burnt out church, not the new, hideously ugly one in the
town! That would be an interesting thing to do with the grandchildren
- good idea. They love watching ours but to see them in those
quantities would be a real experience.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2014-03-14 14:01:31 +0000, Emery Davis said:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 23:17:36 +0000, rbel wrote:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:00:33 +0000, sacha wrote:

I just went outside into the twiight to fill the sunflower heart bird
feeder and there's a bat flying around. I'm just thrilled to bits! They
had such a rotten cold start to last year and a terrible, wet 2012, so I
hope very much these are 'our' bats that roost in the larchlap sides of
one of the sheds. But whatever bats they are, it's wonderful to see
even one dashing about, because that means there must be more. There
are lots of midges etc. flying around, so they should have a feast, we
hope!

At this time of year it is likely to be just out for a quick foraging
trip before returning to its hibernation roost.
Not noticed any here as yet, probably still not quite warm enough up
here although the insect population has become much more evident this
week.

They've been spotted at the farm, where they like to swoop around the
courtyard. But there are far fewer than there were 20 years ago when we
used to see veritable clouds of them on summer evenings.

They used to fly in the open bedroom window at night, I can't think when
that last happened!

-E

Another thing (not to) thank pesticides for. ;-(
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon