Bat detector advice

[Billabong Karen]

Can anyone recommend a good, not-too-expensive, easy-to-use bat detector?? I have lots of bats in my garden, think they are all pipistrelles. I believe they roost in the large trees down the bottom of the garden, and often hunt over my pond. I would love to use a bat detector, but am not very technical, so it would need to be fairly much idiot proof...

Also, is it worth investing now, so late in the season, or would it be better to wait until spring?

Thanks for any advice, Karen

[Kayleigh]

I think maplin do them not too expensive, I don't really know a lot about them I cant say what make mine is but it don't work too well..
I think it would if we had bats lol

[Johnny81]

I have a magenta bat 4 detector, standard basic heterodyne detector. And it has a torch built in Works great for me. Picked up loads of pips (45 + 55's) and nocutule with it the other month.

About £60 online.

[Billabong Karen]

Ooh, that sounds about right, thank you!

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

Can anyone recommend a good, not-too-expensive, easy-to-use bat detector??

How much are you looking to spend? I have bat box duets (c.£220) and batbox 111s (c.£130) I find the duets the better out of the two but maybe a little expensive for casual use. A friend recently bought a Magenta detector (£60) which are quite cheap in comparison and seemed to be quite a good box, he had no problem picking out a number of species on it, whilst we lead a bat walk.

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

I have lots of bats in my garden, think they are all pipistrelles. I believe they roost in the large trees down the bottom of the garden, and often hunt over my pond.

Although not impossible its more likely if they are pipistrelles they are roosting in a local building as these species are far more common in building roosts. However they may be roosting in a building behind the trees? as they often like to roost near trees, woodland, treelines, provided they have a clear entry to the building and the trees and not physically stopping them getting in. Of course some species will regularly roost in trees like Daubentons bat and noctule.

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

I would love to use a bat detector, but am not very technical, so it would need to be fairly much idiot proof...

They are very easy to use but it will take time and effort to learn which species of bat is which. In comparison to learning bird songs it is far more complicated, but in time you do pick it up and can start saying which species is which.

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

Also, is it worth investing now, so late in the season, or would it be better to wait until spring?

Its up to you, although it is starting to draw to an end, if it stays warm you could still get a few weeks batting in (depending on where you are in the country). Still plenty around in N.Yorks.

[Billabong Karen]

Thanks Dogghound, that's all very useful advice. I am not looking to spend a lot of money, as I have no idea yet whether I will take to the bat detector or not... I think I will give the £60 one a shot.

Re the bats in the garden - they are quite small, and I have always assumed they are pipistrelles, but cannot judge. I THINK they roost in the trees; that is where they seem to come from when they fly up the garden toward my house. But I cannot be sure; I have never actually been able to see them in the trees. This is partly why I would like the bat detector - just to be able to have a chance of working out what species they are! At any rate, I love them, and love watching them in the evening. I was amazed to see them flying low over the pond and scooping a mouthful of water - never realized they did that (though it's logical, when you think about it).

I may decide to wait until spring - that way I can probably get the BF to buy me one for Christmas! (He thinks I am bonkers anyway...).

I used to be able to hear some bat calls with the 'naked ear' so to speak, but seem to have lost the ability to hear their high frequency calling. I miss being able to hear them...

[nightshade]

The Magenta are very good, tough as well, I have one my late mother bought me and I lend it out to people I meet who are interested in trying it out. Get one now and take a walk along a canal or tree lined river.
Have a look at my favourite website Warwickshire Bat Group

[Billabong Karen]

Thanks all - am going to give the magenta a try. I'll keep you posted on the results. Karen