Nottinghamshire's Bats
Nottinghamshire has recorded 11 species of bat although two of them, serotine and Nathusius' pipistrelle, have only been recorded on one occasion each. The distribution maps are based on the records of both (north and south) Nottinghamshire Bat Groups.
Daubenton's Bat
Myotis daubentonii
Head - Body 40-50mm. Wingspan 230-270mm. Weight 6-12gms
Often called the water bat because of its
habit of hunting low over ponds, lakes and rivers. They catch insects which are
close to, or on, the waters surface with their large feet or by
scooping up prey with their tail membrane. In the summer they use a variety of
places for their nursery roosts including holes in trees, buildings and bridges.
In Nottinghamshire only four nursery roosts have been discovered (One in a tree,
two in buildings and one in a rock crevice) although the
bat itself has been recorded throughout the county. Winter roosts are generally
in underground sites, old mines, tunnels, ice houses or caves for example.
Photograph by Eric Palmer
Brandt'/Whiskered bat
Myotis brandtii/mystacinus
Head - Body 45-48mm. Wingspan 210-240mm. Weight 4-8gms
These two species have to be lumped together because of the almost impossible job of separating them in the field.
A close examination of the slight differences in the shape of the tragus (inside the ear) and the penis is needed to
give a definite identification. The Whiskered bat is the more common of the two in Nottinghamshire with several known
summer roosts. Nursery roosts are usually in buildings or bat boxes with the winter spent in caves or other underground
places. Brandt's use similar sites for their nursery roosts but are much rarer in Nottinghamshire. One definite and two
probable nursery roosts are known all in buildings. Only one whiskered bat winter roost, in a cave, has been found in
Nottinghamshire.
Photograph by Michael Walker
Natterer's bat
Myotis nattereri
Head - Body 40-50mm. Wingspan 250-300mm. Weight 6-12gms
This medium sized bat is often found in woodland, especially in areas close to water. It is a scarce bat in
Nottinghamshire but is found throughout the county. Like the Daubenton's bat they will feed over water which will
cause identification problems, but they generally fly higher, hunting a metre or so above the surface. The Natterer's
bat will also feed in very confined places, underneath bridges for example. Summer roosts are in buildings, trees or bat
boxes with the winter spent in caves. Roosts in old building are often in the gaps between timber joists.
Photograph by Eric Palmer
Noctule
Nyctalus noctula
Head - Body 70-82mm. Wingspan 330-450mm. Weight 18-40gms
This large, golden coloured, bat is another species which has a scattered distribution in Nottinghamshire.
They are very powerful and fast flyers and feed out in the open over meadows and make many steep dives to catch
their insect prey. They are one of the first bats to emerge in the evening and can often be seen well before sunset.
Their call is very loud and can be picked up by a detector (set at about 22 kHz) when the bat is still some distance
away. Noctules are essentially a tree dweller and often re-use old woodpecker holes for their roosts, both summer
and winter. The male will attract a harem of females (up to 20 but usually less) in the autumn with shrill calls
and a strong odour. Roosts have been found in trees at six sites in Nottinghamshire and they are also often found
in bat boxes.
Photograph by Michael Walker
Leisler's bat
Nyctalus leisleri
Head - Body 48-68mm. Wingspan 260-320mm. Weight 11-20gms
This species, whilst uncommon in the region, seems to have a stronghold in mid Nottinghamshire. It is very similar
to the noctule but smaller and has much the same feeding habits, although the dives are less dramatic and shallower.
It also emerges latter in the evening than the Noctule. In Nottinghamshire Leisler's bat has been found in a tree, a
bat box and at least three attics. They are regularly found in the South Notts Bat Groups bat box scheme in a mid
Nottinghamshire conifer plantation and are often recorded in Clumber Park. It is not unknown for them to share a
box with a Noctule.
Photograph by Robert Stebbings
Serotine
Eptesicus serotinus
Head - Body 60-82mm. Wingspan 320-380mm. Weight 15-35gms
Nottinghamshire's rarest bat with only one record which was more than likely a vagrant from another county. A single
bat was found during building work in the eaves of a house in Lenton in 1986
Photograph by Robert Stebbings
Common, Soprano and Nathusius Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pipistrellus, P pygmaeus. P nathusii
Head - Body 34-45mm. Wingspan 190-259mm. Weight 4-7gms
The common and soprano pipistrelle are the most widespread in Britain and are the most likely species you will come across. They are also the most likely bats to be using your home as a roost site. Both species roost in buildings but do not usually use the roof space. Instead they use the small gaps behind fascia boards or behind hanging tiles or weather boarding. Here females will gather in the early summer to give birth to their single young (twins are very rare). Once the young can fly the roost will be abandoned but they may return the following year. We know very little about where pipistrelle bats go for the winter but occasionally they are discovered roosting in cavity walls.
It is only a few years ago that we thought that there was only one species of pipistrelle in Britain but it has now been discovered that what we thought was one species is in fact two. Discovered by using bat detectors is was found that one species has a peak echolocation frequency of about 45 kHz (common pipistrelle) and the other at about 55 kHz (soprano). DNA tests confirmed that they were separate species.
The Nathusius' pipistrelle is a newcomer to Britain and has only been established as a breeding species for a
few years. The first, and only, record of it in Nottinghamshire to date was of one found injured in the City of
Nottingham early in 2004. Unfortunately we do not know exactly where it was found from and it died from its injuries.
Only a few weeks later another was found in Derbyshire at Long Eaton. It can be separated from the other two pipistrelles
by its echolocation call which is at a much lower frequency. It has since been recorded on bat detectors at Attenborough
Nature Reserve.
Photograph by Michael Walker
Brown Long-eared
Plecotus auritus
Head - Body 37-52mm. Wingspan 230-285mm. Weight 6-12gms
Nottinghamshire's second most widespread bat is easy to identify with ears nearly as long as its body. The majority of
summer roosts are found in old buildings with large roof spaces. They are a very quiet bat and are difficult to pick up on
a detector, this is why there are also known as whispering bats. Long-eared bats can use their large ears to hear the
sounds of insects on a leaf which they then glean from its surface. They will also take prey from the ground. Their
catch is often taken to a feeding site which can give away its location by the quantity of moth wings and other insect
remains found below it. Their winter quarters are in a variety of locations including buildings, tunnels, ice houses and
caves.
Photograph by Michael Walker
