Hanging

Bats in my attic perhaps?  Those people who know me would be thinking that for sure I have, however these beautiful Lesser Horseshoe bats are roosting in the garage roof of some good friends. 

Years ago the idea of putting my head through a hatch in a roof with bats flying round would have been utterly horrific. How times have changed! Standing up there just a couple of feet away from the cutest little furry mammals ever was such a privilege. One kept changing her roosting perch and brushed my arm then my hair on a fly by and it didn't bother me a jot. 

Their body is the size of a thumb being one of the world's smallest bats. Over the next months they will mate then hibernate over the winter with the sperm stored inside the females ready for a propitious moment to give  birth to just one pup in July or August.  

The bats faces have 'nose leaves', fleshy growths growing from the nose which amplify ultrasonic calls which they give out whilst searching for food. High pitched notes emitted through the nostrils are focused into a narrow beam by the fleshy cone-shaped trumpet; the bat moves it's head form side to side to scan in front.  They fly close to the ground using echolocation to detect prey and feed on midges, moths, craneflies and lacewings. They need about 3,000 midges in one night!  

One Extra shows three of the colony hanging together but they did keep flying to the other end of the roof and the other is a single bat but on a different flash setting which I was experimenting with. 

Huge thanks to the Murphys!!