Bat watching in park takes off
A GROUP of 70 people took part in bat watching at Saumarez Park last week.
Run by the Guernsey Bat Group, the hour-long event was enjoyed so much that it ran overtime by about half an hour.
Secretary of the Guernsey Bat Group, Charles Hurford, was pleased with the turnout and level of engagement.
The group set off from the children’s playground car park at 8.15pm and made the short walk to the pond on the other side of the park.
‘There we saw about 15 common pipistrelle bats socialising with one another and feeding off the midges and mosquitoes on the water,’ he said.
The bats have a wingspan of just over 20cm and can weigh between three and eight grams.
‘Some of them were circling above us, but there is absolutely no safety issues and no risk – unless of course you touch, cook and eat them, which is absolutely not advised and is thought to be how Covid got into the human population,’ Mr Hurford said.
‘The bats were far more interested in socialising with one another and feeding than with us, though.’
Bat detectors were available for people on the walk, which went down well with the group.
Some of the best places to see bats are over water areas because they can be seen feeding, and one of Mr Hurford’s favourite spots is the park because there is easy access and plenty of parking.
n The Guernsey Bat Group is also hosting another bat event on Halloween evening at the observatory. For more information visit the group’s Facebook page.
