In a recent posting, I told of an evening’s visit to the lakeshore with Derek Kite to watch bats feast on mayflies.
Derek has persisted in his attempts to record bats feasting and his pictures have progressively improved as he became more familiar with their behaviour. I have combined his best shots of last evening into two composites.
Alas, we yet don’t know which bat species this is.
This two-shot composite of a single bat fits his description of how “they go up about 6 feet, stall, drop and continue in the opposite direction, sometimes… [while eating] a mayfly.” The bat on the right is ascending towards the mayfly (the speck above it); a moment later this same bat is eating that mayfly as it descends on the left.
This eight-shot composite of various bats fits his description of hunting as they “turn staying at the same level, 6″ to 18″ above the water.” The specks are mayflies.
Derek Kite’s pictures are used with permission.