For more than 40 years we have had bats flying at dusk in the summer months. But on April 15th at 3 p.m. one flew around the garden skimming along the lawn, then up over the tree tops. It stayed flying for three or four minutes until some small birds chased it away.
Brenda Whelan, Clonskeagh,
Dublin 14
Although bats hibernate when the cold weather arrives in October, they will emerge to feed even in daylight during mild spells. They also fly in daylight in spring when they emerge from hibernation and are hungry. In the cooler weather of spring and autumn there are not so many insects flying at night, so they are forced to feed during the day.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. e-mail: viney@anu.ie