Bat Question

[Xurek]

Hello,

I live in a row of terraced houses in a small housing estate which backs on to a large area of farmland. I am situated about 10 miles north of Inverness in the Highlands. We live at the back of the estate where it is very quiet and dark with the fields right behind the garden and there is two street lights which act like beacons for insects and with it come the bats. There are always bats flying around at night picking off prey around the street lights and I was wondering what species they are likely to be (thus the background info incase it helps).

Also how would you actually go about confirming the species or is this not possible without a bat detector?

Thanks for your time.

[thunder]

Your bats are probably pipistrelles, but confirming this is no easy matter. Even a bat detector will not necessarily give a 100% reliable identification. Try and contact your local bat group and they may be able to visit and make some suggestions.

henrya

[The Woodman]

Depending on the depth of your pockets (£25) and the strength of your desire to ID the species, another method is DNA analysis. ID 100% reliable.

If you can collect a dropping or two and I would look on the roofs of cars if you're seeing bats around street lights, I can give you instructions on how to get it done.

Thunders suggestion is the easiest route to ID by asking your local bat group to use - 1. bat detector, 2. recording, and 3. sound analysis.

[nightshade]

Until they changed the type of streetlight I used to see Noctule and Serotine around the lights, but then there were more beetles and large moths about.
Perhaps ID the prey and find the bat? bigger prey bigger bats. Contact your Bat Group Inverness Bat Group | Home
Please let us know what you find out

[Dogghound]

Your location, the habits of these bats and urban setting is very suggestive of Pipistrelle, most likely common, in my opinion. I have never found Myotis or brown long eared to be that keen on lighting. I think you will get 2 species of pip (common and soprano), brown long eared, natterers and daubentons in that area. You could possibly rule daubentons out on foraging behaviour.

[Xurek]

Thanks all for your suggestions. Several avenues to go down / investigate.

Much appreciated.