Wow, thanks, you guys! I have a lot of good tips here that I will try out. You guys are the best!
Luckily the bats do fly back and forth in a fairly predictable pattern (right in front us, actually - usually diving to capture bugs right below our deck). So I think that focusing manually on a specific spot would work best, and make sure that I catch a bat when it flies through there. I tried manual focusing the other night, but talk about a "dim" viewfinder. E-500 and darkness...ha! I think perhaps FL's hyperfocal tip would work best here.
I am cracking up at the idea of my husband climbing on the roof with a practice "bat" for me to shoot at. Maybe the "bug bait" would work, though...I can see this may be a "summer project" to get all the factors right.
I do think they return to the nest - or at least I can't see them anymore when it gets really dark - but I'm not too sure of where the nest is. Another thing I will investigate!
These are just the coolest things ever to see - although, it's a little disconcerting when they swoosh a couple of inches from your head like they do sometimes. (That's when I need the stiff drink, windsprite!). I will keep experimenting and report back on my progress. Project Bat Photo, here I come! Heh.
