:) Last night I heard a chuntering sound coming from behind the barge board at the rear of my house. Whilst listening a bat popped out. Counted thirty.
Tonight I have got there earlier and counted 44! This is in a narrow gap of about an 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, between barge board and wall. I have watched with the binoculars but can not identify them as they are so quick.
Having same difficulty taking a picture. Will try on video mode tomorrow as it got too dark.
Sounds typical. 90% of all the bats in the uK are pipistrelles, so it's safest to assume pipistrelle until proven otherwise.
You probably have a local bat group that can come and listen to them on a batometer (if that's whatthey're called - if not they d**n well should be it is a cool word ;D) and they will identify them by which type of squeek they make. You can buy batometers on t'interweb but they are about 100 quid I think.
How fantastic 8)
I'd love to have bats in my belfry, but won't complain as I have plenty of Sparrows.
Bats are my favorite creature, I adore them.
I think we should all have spaces in our roofs for wildlife, especially when they build all these new homes, they should leave spaces.
My cat once caught a bat, but she likes to play with her catches and I got it off her before she harmed it. It sat on my chest for about 5 minutes before flying into the night. It was lovely.
Melanie :)
Something I have been saying for a long time - it's nice to see somebody else saying it too. All new houses should be built with wildlife accomodation, solar panels and a wind turbine at the very least.
I couldn't agree more - a great idea. But on that point has anyone come across a website or whatever for modifying roofspace for wildlife???
:) Good to hear all your comments. I have my grandaughter coming for the weekend, so am planning a stay up late and watch the bats.
Trouble is they use treated timber in roofs nowadays which kills bats. That's one reason for their decline.
That is great news Supernan ! As the others have said, it is a shame they do not accommodate for bats. I think you can buy bat boxes ??? Not sure though and would not know where to position them, They are beautiful little creature which do a lot of good as they eat insects ! ;D :D
Fantastic! I adore bats, always have. My gramps has a bat listener, and now, night vision gogs, so he sits in his garden watching and listening to them! I do believe that once you have them, they are protected by law and you can't 'move' them out, but why would you want to! ;D
Supernan - you are very lucky 8)!
Marianne - yes, you can buy bat boxes - if anyone is interested in boxes or other info. about bats you can find them on:
http://www.birdfood.co.uk/dev/shop/products.php?cID=1&sub=5
or similar bird & wildlife food suppliers.
Put bat boxes fairly high up in a tree. I suspect under the eaves would do equally well, but I don't know for sure.
I do bat watch every evening with a glass of something in my hand - very relaxing :) We were pontificating on this very subject last night my OH and I as we think our bats are not pipistrelles as they are too big. What they are I don't know but they like my garden. I don't use chemicals so have plenty of creepy crawlies and stuff for them to eat. I switch on the outside lights to attract the insects and then all the bats move in for a feast :)
Well last night was a real damp squib!! After bribing the granddaughter to be brave ( has had a bat caught in her hair!) we waited and waited not one bat.
Went out at about 12pm and saw one bat flying and one landed near the hole then took off again. So I think this must be one of several summer roosts. Will keep watching.