The Bars are back

[Volvoclaret]

Just been out in the garden and saw that the bats are out in force. First time I've seen them this year and it feels like Spring is definitely here. Nothing beats sitting in the garden as dusk settles, listening to the stream burbling, no traffic, no jets and a glass of red in hand watching the bats flitting about. Just missing the Martins this year, normally here by now.

[Volvoclaret]

Just been out in the garden and saw that the bats are out in force. First time I've seen them this year and it feels like Spring is definitely here. Nothing beats sitting in the garden as dusk settles, listening to the stream burbling, no traffic, no jets and a glass of red in hand watching the bats flitting about. Just missing the Martins this year, normally here by now.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

Same here for the martins. Very late arriving.

I see you’ve edited your title in post2 but that only applies to post 2. You need to edit it within the OP.

[Marney&Mee]

Tempting as it may be, don’t go eating any...

[Bosscat]

Why not just change the title on your OP Volvo

[conyoviejo]

Which bars are open?

[LeadBelly]

Same here for the martins. Very late arriving.

Same here with swifts. Only saw some a couple of days ago and just a handful rather than a dozen +. Hopefully there'll be more about with the weather improvement this week (unless they've all been shot coming through south west Europe).

[Volvoclaret]

Keeping original OP now, seems to be attracting more traffic

[Bosscat]

Keeping original OP now, seems to be attracting more traffic

[KateR]

click bat

[Rowls]

Click bair

[gawthorpe_view]

I got quite excited when I saw the thread title.

Deflated now.

P.S. bats circle the houses round me at twilight.

I'm not tempted to eat them.

Or ask them if they feel unwell.

[mdd2]

Last summer around 8pm I was in my study when I thought that is a big moth/butterfly- but it was a bat; no idea how he or she got in (cannot call a mammal it) as it swooped around the room. Anyway ran out of the room closed the door and got the good lady to come and see the wonderful spectacle but to avoid it more grief I opened the window and it swooped past my head and out into the night air. Absolutely no idea how it got into the house.

[Bosscat]

The bravest animals in the land are Captain Beaky and his band
That's Timid Toad, Reckless Rat, Artful Owl and Batty Bat
They march through the woodlands singing songs
That tell how they have righted wrongs

Once Hissing Sid, an evil snake, kept the woodland folk awake
In fear and trembling every night
In case he gave someone a bite
Said Artful Owl, 'We'll lie in wait
And one of us will be the bait."
Said Captain Beaky, "Have no fear!
For I alone will volunteer!"

"No, make it me!" Said Reckless Rat
I'll stand there in my reckless hat
When Hissing Sid picks up my trail,
I'll just lasso him with my tail!"

"Oh, good idea" said Timid Toad,
"We'll hide a long way down the road.
And when you've overcome resistance,
We'll rush along to your assistance."

Said Batty Bat, "I've got a wheeze!
I'll fly and hide up in the trees!
If Hissing Sid should slither by
I'll drop a boulder from the sky!"

Said Artful Owl, "The idea sound how will you lift it off the ground?"
Poor Batty Bat just scratched his head,
"I hadn't thought of that," he said.

Said Owl, "The rest of us hold back. There's only one that he'll
attack."
Said Timid Toad, "I like your plan."
"Good luck," said Owl, "For you're the man!"

So Timid Toad, his eyes a-popping,
Into the woodland night went hopping
Captain Beaky waved his hand, followed by his trusty band
That's Artful Owl and Reckless Rat, and above the trees flew Batty
Bat.

"Stop!" Said Beaky, "I hear squeaking!"
"It's Batty Bat" said Owl, "He's speaking!"
"It's all in code," said Reckless Rat
Said Owl, "I'll just decipher that."

"A dash, a dot, two short, two long
I rather think we've got it wrong.
It reads 'can clearly see the road,
Hissing Sid has captured Toad!'"

"Quick men!" said Beaky, "No delay!
"You mustn't let him get away!"
And leaping off, said "Follow me!"
And ran head first into a tree.

"Dot dot dot" squeaked Batty Bat.
Said Beaky, "Quick! Decipher that!"
Said Reckless Rat, "Perhaps we're gaining?"
"No," said Owl. "He says it's raining"

Oh, how they ran to save poor Toad,
For they must find that snake's abode
Guided by old Batty Bat
Dot dot go this way dash, go that!

Then Hissing Sid's lair they spied
Were they too late? Was he inside?
Said Reckless Rat, "I'll get a pole
And stop him going down his hole!"

Then into sight the snake came hopping,
Right past his hole, no sign of stopping
Said Reckless Rat, "That's rather funny,
"There's something jumping in his tummy."

Said Captain Beaky, "Well I'm blowed!
Hissing Sid has swallowed Toad!"
And as the snake hopped out of sight,
Off they chased into the night.

At last they found him, tired and dizzy
And pulled out Toad, who said "Where is he?
For left alone, I felt quite sick,
And hopped into a hollow stick

Said Owl, "A clever step to take!
You jumped into that slippery snake."
"That was brave of Toad", said Rat
"That's just my sort of plan!" said Bat

Said Captain Beaky to his men,
"Well we'll not see Hissing Sid again!"
And as they marched off down the road,
They sang in praise of Timid Toad

Above them flew ol' Batty Bat,
With his wings stretched out, like that
Owl's idea, the clever fella
To have a flying um-ber-ella

[KateR]

Yowzer, hope that was copy and paste!!

[Bosscat]

Yowzer, hope that was copy and paste!!

Copy and paste...

How very dare you

Of course it was Kate

[tim_noone]

Last summer around 8pm I was in my study when I thought that is a big moth/butterfly- but it was a bat; no idea how he or she got in (cannot call a mammal it) as it swooped around the room. Anyway ran out of the room closed the door and got the good lady to come and see the wonderful spectacle but to avoid it more grief I opened the window and it swooped past my head and out into the night air. Absolutely no idea how it got into the house.

Wow!! The study..

[Bosscat]

Wow!! The study..

It was Professor Plum in the Ballroom with the Candlestick

[KateR]

this place is a 10/15 min walk from me and the bridge is one I walk under regularly but also one I always avoid at sundown, the smell under the bridge is atrocious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaEsBnjvSwk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbzNeu5UPPg

[tim_noone]

this place is a 10/15 min walk from me and the bridge is one I walk under regularly but also one I always avoid at sundown, the smell under the bridge is atrocious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbzNeu5UPPg

Bat Sh!t ? Crazy!

[Rileybobs]

This thread has probably been the low point of the lockdown for me.

[spadesclaret]

This may be the reason for low numbers of swifts and martins -

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ver-greece

[tim_noone]

This may be the reason for low numbers of swifts and martins -

https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... ver-greece

What a shame..

[karatekid]

I've seen a lot of tits hanging around

[Marney&Mee]

I've seen a lot of tits hanging around

you say that aviary time KK...

[LeadBelly]

I've seen a lot of tits hanging around

Don't crow about it or you'll seem like a raven lunatic.
Owl get me coot.

[Stan Tastic]

There's nothing like watching the bats at night to take your mind off Coronavirus.

[Leisure]

Last summer around 8pm I was in my study when I thought that is a big moth/butterfly- but it was a bat; no idea how he or she got in (cannot call a mammal it) as it swooped around the room. Anyway ran out of the room closed the door and got the good lady to come and see the wonderful spectacle but to avoid it more grief I opened the window and it swooped past my head and out into the night air. Absolutely no idea how it got into the house.

A few years back we had a bat in the house on 2 separate occasions. First time was when we opened the pan drawer in the kitchen and it was in there. Absolutely no idea how it got there! The 2nd time there was one flying around the bedroom. On both occasions we called out a lady from the local bat group who came and took them away. No idea how they got in or where they came from, as I've never even seen any flying outside the house?

[mdd2]

We had them flying around the house from 1998 for about 5 years but none in recent times and like you I was surprised if not a tad pleased by the experience; more so by the way he/she swooped down to go through the open window as soon as I opened it, but the bat made no attempt to leave through the doorway into the hall. I assume the sonar they use indicated the open window was to open space but the door just led to more solid walls

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

The Martins have landed. Just in the process of nest building. Photo to follow.

We came home from a gig a few years back and the Mrs shouts there’s a bird in the kitchen. I arrive to see a flutter of wings land on top of the units. As she opens the kitchen window I reach over the top and pick it up. Take it to the window, open my hand and it was a bat. Beautiful feel to it a shame they are so demonised by books and films.