Going Batty

I visited Brereton Heath Country Park near Sandbach on Saturday 17 September. The A Rocha UK Sandbach group had organised a bat walk here. The day had been showery with some thunder but cleared as we gathered at the visitor centre. Just as we were about to leave we had another short cloudburst, which delayed us for 10 minutes. We set off and initially all was quiet until we reached a newly erected screen which overlooked a less dense part of the mixed woodland. We heard one bat, a pipistrelle. Once more detectors were used we heard and saw several soprano pipistrelles. It was the first time I have seen so many 55's. We continued our walk and for a brief three seconds I heard a single noctule. Once the lake had been circumnavigated, we carefully went a little closer to it and were treated to both hearing and seeing a few Daubentons. Finally as we were leaving two males and one female tawny owl bade us a too-woo too-wit farewell. It had been a great evening enjoying God's creation.