Recall at night

Ledger is 99% on lead when we go out for walks and is currently walked on a flexi lead. He does check back regularly and I use 'watching' which now in daylight he will make eye contact and come back to my side this is nearly 100% just the odd interesting smell or certain dogs that I don't get the ideal reaction (so still not quite at a point for him to be off lead).

The problem is in the dark he maybe only reacts 20% of the time even with no obvious distractions around. I think I am only noticing this as his daylight reactions have been improving so much and just wondered if anyone else has experienced the same thing or it is just Ledger being hypersensitive to his surroundings when he cant rely on his vision. For example at night he seems to be more aware of the area where the rats nest at the brook in the park but he doesn't appear to see them or certainly doesn't react in the way that he does when he sees squirrels in the day but with the squirrels he would listen to me and at night he mostly doesn't.

I very rarely take Rocky out after dark, leave that one to my other half, but then he would always be on a lead of some kind anyway (Rocky not OH although that would probably be a very idea too).

So many other distractions I guess as you say different animal smells and noises.

I'm not really sure as we don't really take Suki out for walks at night

I don't walk Moo in the either, we go out for toilets (her not me) but I keep her onlead as I don't like it if I can't see her.

I have started letting Troy off the lead on a night before bed time now because it is very quiet with less distractions around.

He wonders off but generally always looks back to see if I am there. If I start walking or running in the opposite direction he will come sprinting towards me. His recall is fine in the dark also. I did notice if on a wide open field in the dark he usually sticks by my side too when on a leash.