Bats

The Barbastelle is very rare, found in southern and central England and Wales. Their calls sound like short, hard smacks, in fast and then slower pulses.

Bechstein’s bats tend to forage in woodland within a kilometre or two of their roost site, generally high up in the canopy although they can be seen near the ground when drinking, commuting or socialising.

The Brandt’s bat is a small species with a somewhat shaggy fur. It is very similar to the whiskered bat and is difficult to tell them apart.

This bat's huge ears provide exceptionally sensitive hearing - it can even hear a ladybird walking on a leaf.

Common Pipistrelle's are the commonest and most widespread of all British bat species.

The Daubenton Bat is also known as the ‘water bat’ as it fishes insects from the water’s surface with its large feet or uses its tail membrane as a scoop.

The Greater horseshoe bat is rare in Britain, confined to central England and Wales. It is one of our largest bat species, the size of a small pear.

The greater mouse-eared bat is the largest bat that occurs in Britain. It was officially declared extinct in 1990 in the UK.

Grey long-eared bats are very rare medium-sized bats found only in a few places in southern England. They are generally longer than the Brown long-eared bats. 

The Leisler’s bat is similar to the noctule, but smaller, with longer fur, particularly around the shoulders and the upper back, giving it a lion’s mane appearance.

The Lesser horseshoe bat is one of the smallest British species, being around plum-sized. Like the greater horseshoe bat, it has a complex noseleaf.

Nathusius pipistrelle is a rare bat in the UK, though records have increased in recent years A previous migrant species, it has only been classed as a resident species since 1997.

The Natterer’s bat is a medium-sized species that was often called the ‘red-armed bat’ because of its pinkish limbs.

The Noctule bat is one of the largest widespread British species, but it is still smaller than the palm of your hand.

Serotine bat is one of Britain’s largest bat species and usually one of the first to appear in the evening, often emerging in good light.

Soprano Pipistrelles are the commonest and most widespread of all British bat species.

The whiskered bat is very similar to Brandt’s bat and the two species were only separated in 1970.