Further findings from the Strettons Area Community Wildlife Group (SACWG) Garden Wildlife Survey show bats were reported by 67% of the respondents. Most records were from gardens where established trees are present, demonstrating the value of the tree canopy as a feeding ground. Bat species are difficult to identify without the use of a bat detector as they hunt at night (although some emerge from their roost at dusk). Bats use a high frequency echolocation system which can be heard using a bat detector. Individual species emit calls with specific characteristics and this helps identify many of them.
Three species that you might observe before or around sunset are the Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and the Noctule. Pipistrelles are Britain’s smallest bats and feed on flying insects such as non-biting midges. The Noctule bat is our largest species and is easy to identify – it may even be mistaken for a small bird at first. Noctules fly above roof top height, hawking for beetles, moths and flies.
