Where are the bats?

[nightshade]

It is more likely to be a 55 Soprano Pipistrelle, they seem to be filling a gap left by local 45's Common Pipistrelles here

55 and 45 refer to bat call frequencies listen here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_spe...n_bat_detector

[Farplace]

So are Sopranos smaller than "normal" pips? I thought it was just their sound range? The bats around my house are common pips, but I know there are sopranos in the area too. I like playing with my new bat detector!!

[The Woodman]

Both common and soprano pips are the same size. I think nightshade was referring to the biological "niche" not physical gap size.

There are physiological differences as well as ultrasound frequencies, the soprano has a much lighter -even pink - facial membranes, a noticeable smell and a subtle physiognomy rather like a pigs snout!

Tuesday's the day for big words!

[softcheaks]

We would normally see two or three small bats flying around our garden early evening. Last year my daughter would wait up to watch them before going to bed but I can only recall one sighting in our garden this year. I also walk our puppy early evening and maybe a month or so ago I saw a few in the feilds along the hedgerows but nothing since. A great shame as they are fascinating to watch. Also have not seen many moths about either... i wonder if someone is recording the bat numbers in Wiltshire..? I am sure they are and will look to finding out... very interesting.

With regards to bridge building, improvements and maintenance, your Local Authority Highways department for bridges should be using a certified Ecologist to carrying out the ecological surverys for all protected species if and when required.

[Holly29]

We have had a nursery roost of common pipistrelles in our loft and cavity wall every summer for at least 20 years. Numbers have fluctuated between approx 80 to 300 adults. Usually they are with us from early May to end of July with the babies being born around the last week of June or so. They seem to have come through the harsh winter of 2009/2010 OK and last year we had a roost of around 150 adults at 26 June.

This year so far we have had only occasional sightings/soundings of individual bat(s) crossing the garden with none seen going into the air brick to the loft. I wonder if the very early onset of bitter cold weather in November 2010 may have hit them before they were fully hibernating.

Numbers had started to build back up after the series of very wet summers a few years back which depleted our little colony. Fingers crossed that some have survived and return. We would really miss them.

[Holly29]

Well they must have heard me. Night before last, 33 seen leaving the roost between 8:45 and 9:30. Good. At least some or 'our' roost made it through the winter.