Bat or a lost bird?

B3

As dark as it gets in London and that's not much. Fast erratic flight and fast flapping wings.  Horizontal flight path back and forth.. Bat or bird?

fidgetbones

Superman.

B3

I think his underpants were inside his tights🤔

Allotment Boy

Nor sure which corner of London you are in,  we get bats flying round here,  but we do have a farm less than a mile away. 

WeaveyDavey

@B3 : I'd vote for bat - but then I'm a tad biased (see my avatar)!! Most probably a pipistrelle bat - they're very 'pro-urban' i habit, especially if there's woods or parkland nearby? Happy spotting!

B3

Thanks @Allotment Boy and @David Matthews2. There's derelict electricity substation or water thing for the railway about half a mile away. I wonder if they're living in there. Plenty of parkland and a river nearby so maybe. I didn't realise that they flapped their ' wings'

WeaveyDavey

@B3 Now you've given a description of some local features, I'd broaden the suggestion to include Dorbenton's Bat - it's quite a bit larger than a 'Pip' but also has the habit of swooping low over water bodies (eg river) to snaffle insects in flight!! Good hunting!

Ergates

They certainly do flap their wings! We often see them round the street lights. If it’s actually dark, a bird out late would probably be making straight for a roost, while the bats would be actively hunting in circuits. Agree with David that if you are near a river, you may well see Daubenton’s bats.
lots of info on the London Wildlife Trust website.

Balgay.Hill

I've often accidently caught bats when fly fishing into the dark. They mistake the artificial fly for a real one and catch it in mid cast.
It can be a tricky job unhooking them.

debs64

Why do you go fishing in the dark? Surely the point is to enjoy the scenery and relax? 

Fairygirl

Many people fish at night @debs64 

Sounded more like a bat to me too @B3.