Bat in the afternoon??

[pipolo]

Hi,
For a few afternoons over the past fortnight, we have had a bat flying around, almost at the same time of day, 3 o'clock tea-time! Flying around the same area, above a small brook, surrounded by trees . He/She? seems to be flying high, not low down to maybe get insects over the water. I know very little about Bats, but thought they only came out at dusk/night-time? Is it usual to see one, rather than a crowd...or whatever a group is bats is called! I'm sure someone will enlighten me on that one. Look forward to learning something about bats. Thanks.

[Airehead]

A few years ago when we visited Harlow Carr garden we watched a bat doing something similar. We were standing facing a pond and it came round repeatedly over the pond, straight toward us at head height, circled out of sight and round again 5 or 6 times.

[DL]

I have seen them during the late afternoon at around mid-summer in Perthshire some years ago. Also at that time of day somewhere else but I cant remember exactly where. Thats the only occasions I can remember at the moment so it is possible it is not very common.

I have often seen single ones at dusk.

[natterjack]

I've occasionally seen a bat out during the day, and have heard of others - particularly in early Spring or late Autumn, but not regularly in the same spot.

Unusual.

I believe that the collective noun for bats when they are in the air, is a cloud. When roosting they are a colony.

[speckled wood]

Noctule Bats are quoted as flying before dark and as high flyers.

[Tragus]

Hi pipolo
It's not uncommon for some bats to fly earlier in the day. Sometimes it's due to hunger, or colder nights which mean less insect activity (less food) so bats will emerge much earlier to forage. We have recently had some colder nights, and at this time of year bats need to feed more to gain weight for hibernation.
Hope this helps
Jo

[nightshade]

As Tragus says food/water is a steady drive,although you can see bats moving in shaded
areas earlier than the more accepted 15mins + -, after sunset.
Glsammys Daubenton was up early.There are Daubentons and pipistrelle up early over the lake at Bristols Eastville park, there are pips and noctule moving here at twilight now.
An individual may get up for a drink as they do even in the colder months then decide there is enough food around to make the energy exchange worthwhile even a bonus at this time of year.
September is a month where bats are actively looking for sex as well as fattening up
for "hibernation"

[henrya]

Might be worth using the binoculars next time the bat comes out. You may be able to see swarms of insects which would definitely indicate feeding.

henrya

[nightshade]

Pipolo contact your local bat group they could ID it for you using a bat detector and visual ,it helps with species location data aswell

[aeshna5]

Usually when I've seen bats flying in daytime it's been late autumn or early spring. Remember one New Year's Day in Richmond Park seeing a couple of bats there in different locations- possibly Noctule + Pipistrelle sp flying around mid-day when weather was unseasonably mild + grey.