Bat-watching

We have 16 species of bat in the UK, but some of them are very rare or occur only in a few places. These are four bats to watch out for.

1. Our commonest bats are the pipistrelles. You may even see them in your garden. They fly with irregular twists and dives, usually about head height or just above. As they chase and dodge after insects their flight looks very fast and jerky. Watch for them around buildings, street lights, and along hedges and treelines.

2. Another bat found throughout the UK is the brown long-eared bat. They are usually difficult to spot as they emerge after dusk and fly close to the vegetation or even in among the branches. Their flight is slow and fluttering, but if you are lucky enough to see them against the sky their huge ears show up clearly.

3. The noctule is one of our biggest bats. They emerge early in the evening, just as it starts to get dark. They can sometimes be seen flying in a straight line, high overhead, then swooping down to catch their prey. Their long narrow wings are quite distinctive.

4. If you see a bat after dark, flying very low over water and skimming the surface like a mini-hovercraft, it’s a Daubenton’s bat. Watch Daubenton’s bats carefully and you may see them touch the water with their big feet as they take an insect.