A great escape for bat gone astray

I WAS sitting in the kitchen the other evening when I heard a scrabbling sound coming from a table lamp in the corner.

I assumed it was a large moth that had been attracted by the light and went over to investigate. I got quite a surprise when I found a bat hanging inside the lampshade.

The bat, I think, was equally surprised. It took off and flew around the room a bit before landing on top of a tall press. I was delighted. Many years ago bats were common in and around the house — long-eared bats, pipistrelles and one record of a Leisler’s bat — but I hadn’t seen one for a long time and had assumed they had abandoned the place.