Bat species recorded on or near the reserve
	Name	Noctule bat Nyctalus noctula
	Description	One of our largest bats, with short sleek golden hair and black wings. head & body 60 - 82 mm, weight 320 - 400 g, wingspan 18 - 40 mm.
	Feeding habitat	Over deciduous woodland, parkland, pasture, water, at woodland edges.
	Summer roosts	Tree dwellers, using woodpecker holes and rot holes. Rarely in buildings.
	Winter roosts	Trees, bat boxes
	Preferred food	Moths, beetles (mainly chafer and dung beetles), mayflies and winged ants.
	Flight pattern	Usually the earliest bats to be seen, often before sunset. They fly in the open, well above tree top level, diving steeply to chase insects.
	Echolocation	Noctule ultra-sound can be heard by some adults and children. The calls peak at 22 kHz, heard as a characteristic ‘chip-chop’ on a bat detector. Calls are very loud.
	Social calls
	Status
	Reserve	Noctules’ social calls have been heard in autumn along the river walk, indicating a mating roost nearby.
	Kent	Noctules appear to be declining in Kent, being seen much less often than reported in the past. Very few roosts are known.
	Britain	Relatively common in some parts of Britain, but has become scarce in some areas. It is not found in Ireland.
	Europe	Widespread and abundant.
	Conservation	Decline is due to loss of suitable feeding habitats, resulting from intensive agricultural practices. Many roosts have also been lost, as old and dead trees, of the type preferred by noctules, are often felled.