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Bat or a lost bird?

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Wildlife gardening
As dark as it gets in London and that's not much. Fast erratic flight and fast flapping wings.  Horizontal flight path back and forth.. Bat or bird?
In London. Keen but lazy.
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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Superman.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I think his underpants were inside his tights🤔
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    Nor sure which corner of London you are in,  we get bats flying round here,  but we do have a farm less than a mile away. 
    AB Still learning

  • WeaveyDaveyWeaveyDavey Posts: 575
    @B3 : I'd vote for bat - but then I'm a tad biased (see my avatar)!! Most probably a pipistrelle bat - they're very 'pro-urban' i habit, especially if there's woods or parkland nearby? Happy spotting!
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited October 2021
    Thanks @Allotment Boy and @David Matthews2. There's derelict electricity substation or water thing for the railway about half a mile away. I wonder if they're living in there. Plenty of parkland and a river nearby so maybe. I didn't realise that they flapped their ' wings'
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • WeaveyDaveyWeaveyDavey Posts: 575
    @B3 :smile: Now you've given a description of some local features, I'd broaden the suggestion to include Dorbenton's Bat - it's quite a bit larger than a 'Pip' but also has the habit of swooping low over water bodies (eg river) to snaffle insects in flight!! Good hunting!
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    They certainly do flap their wings! We often see them round the street lights. If it’s actually dark, a bird out late would probably be making straight for a roost, while the bats would be actively hunting in circuits. Agree with David that if you are near a river, you may well see Daubenton’s bats.
    lots of info on the London Wildlife Trust website.
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    I've often accidently caught bats when fly fishing into the dark. They mistake the artificial fly for a real one and catch it in mid cast.
    It can be a tricky job unhooking them.
    Sunny Dundee
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Why do you go fishing in the dark? Surely the point is to enjoy the scenery and relax? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Many people fish at night @debs64  :)

    Sounded more like a bat to me too @B3.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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