Yesterday at about five, late afternoon, I watched a swallow swooping through clouds of hovering insects at tree top level, or what I first thought to be a swallow, but I had never seen a swallow jink and turn in such agitated flight.

No, there in the strong sunlight of the day was a bat, seemingly feasting, maybe fresh from its hibernation, perhaps late as the freezing nights had extended its winter. A fascinating sight watched for many minutes before it zipped away to another aerial hunting ground.