A knock on the door on a Saturday night. Apparently, early that a.m an estate worker, with an interest in bats, had been called re: a bat that had been found tucked behind a tin of gravy powder in the local golf club kitchen…. hence ‘Bisto’… a somewhat appropriate name suggested by a friend. Presumably the bat had inadvertently flown into the kitchen the night before. The est. worker kept the bat in a box for the day, intending to release it that night. As the bat was not looking good and the weather was really cold and windy; he thankfully decided against it and knocked on my door instead. The poor Pipistrelle bat was definitely not fit enough for release; he was underweight and it transpired he also had a digestive problem.
Seven days later, am pleased to say the bat was much improved. His digestive problem had been resolved and he had put on weight. I was already caring for a number of bats, so took him along with the others for a test flight courtesy of Sally at East Dorset Bat Rescue. He whizzed around non-stop in the large bat flight – his flight pattern and agility so fast that I realise now he could well have been a Nathusius Pip. I was so busy with the other rescues though that I forgot to check him out or photograph him and as the weather was good the following night I felt confident about releasing him. As soon as he had his bearings and could hear other Pips flying around: he took off like a shot. It is always a lovely sight and feeling. My only regret is that Bisto will be forever my ‘mystery Pipistrelle bat’.