Winter bats

[ashby_1963]

I have just seen a couple of bats in my garden - a first for me in December.

Is it usual for them to come out of hibernation for a quick forage? it is exceptionally mild this evening (11 Celsius)
I can find no reference to this behaviour in any of my books.
Paul

[Meta menardi]

I am not a bat expert, but I understand that, during normal hibernation even under ideal conditions, the bats will have occasional periods of activity and may fly about in the hiberculaneum, and pass urine and faeces, and in some cases mate. It is not normal for them to leave the refuge, so what your lot are doing is probably:

Unusual.

Life threatening, as they will loose energy and deplete stores.

Have you got a local Bat group (almost certainly you have, try some searches on the net, also look for local Ecological Data Centre). You will get more expert information and greater local knowledge than I can pretend to offer.

[Hedge Witch]

I've noticed an unusual amount of flying insects at the moment due to the mild conditions. I wonder if they are having a quick snack while they can

[aeshna5]

I've seen at least 2 species of bat feeding during the day in winter on mild days. Remember 1 New Year's Day seeing both Noctule + a Pipistrelle sp. feeding in Richmond Park. I've seen pips on several other occasions too.

[Dogghound]

It depends on species, its not common but its not highly unusual, they will often wake and feed on warm winter nights.

[Meta menardi]

My thoughts on the impact on the bats is that a quick flutter around the winter refuge and a quick pee and a oeoeoeoe is one thing, but unpacking the whole digestive system and so on for a mouthful of bugs is probably not a good idea.

[Dogghound]

It may not seem a good idea but they often do this. Its not thought to have highly negative implecations on the bats. They will often prolong foraging whilst food is digested in colder evenings. Any higher than 10oC is fine for insect activity. Most is done in the day or at dusk as this is generally the warmest part of a winters day.

[nightshade]

I was suprised at the numbers of Moths in my headlights the past few days
it has been very mild. Unfortunately Bats whether disturbed from hibernation or drawn out by mild weather always use precious energy reserves, so it is a trade off that they rarely make up by winter feeding.
Wish them luck

[ashby_1963]

I switched on a 500 watt security light for a few seconds tonight and there are, as has been suggested, an unusually large number of mosquitos and midges around.
During the summer (if we get one) I am in the garden until dusk or later on any day when it's not raining.
In winter, it's usually dark when I finish work so I am much less likely to be around during prime bat-spotting time, It makes me wonder if this behaviour is more common than I previously thought and it's just that I haven't noticed it before.
The bats are Pipistrelles.

[Meta menardi]

I think that it would be very useful if you recorded times dates and temperatures, information like this is in many cases not available. The data should go to your local data centre or bat group.

Even small recordings will add to what is known.