Date conducted: 13 August 2021, 21:02 - 21:51 Equipment used: Acoustics Echo Meter Touch bat detector Operator: Paul Colley
Species detected (high probability):
Common pipistrelle (Pipistrelles pipistrelles)
Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrelles pygmaeus)
Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus)
Noctule (Nyctalus noctula)
Species detected (ambiguous sonogram or low probability):
Western barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus)
Lesser noctule (Nyctalus noctula)
Common serotine (Eptesicus serotinus)
OBSERVATIONS
The probability of a Barbastelle is intriguing. They are very rare bats, but positively confirmed to hunt in parts of Wiltshire.
For a survey of less than one hour, this is an impressive list of recordings, but the meadow is prime hunting ground and there were lots of insects airborne, including moths.
We should not assume the bats roost here as there is no particularly dense woodland, but they were clearly hunting over the reserve. All UK bat species are protected by law. The operator is not an expert in bat surveys, but has long experience working with experts in the Wiltshire Bat Group.