Dear Diary: The Eternal Ramblings of Trevor Watson

I have to confess that I find it fascinating just to stand and watch this wonderful little creature flit around the garden, a few feet off the ground, catching insects.

It's interesting that it chooses to fly around our comparatively small garden rather than the neighbours - although it does occasionally fly an extended loop over the neighbouring gardens.

Sometimes a second Pipistrelle joins "ours" for a few seconds of flight which takes an extended path over several gardens and the field behind our garden, but they appear to be solitary hunters most of the time.

Pipistrelle's are a protected species in the UK - largely because of the decline in numbers thought to be due to intensive use of insectisides in farming; which means that if you find one in your loft/attic, you have to leave it alone.