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photographs and sent them to 'Wildtrack' the
children's nature programme put out by the
B.B.C. From Bristol the photos were sent
to Monks Wood, where Dr. Bob Stebbings
identified the bat as a Nathusius Pipi-
strelle - only the third record for Great
Britain. This bat is common in Europe but
regularly migrates ahead of cold weather
from its northernmost range around the
Baltic. In fact, in Holland, 80% of
'pipistrelles' reported from houses during
the winter months are identified as Nath-
usius' . The Essex record may have
represented the tip of an iceberg and Field
Club members are asked to inform me of any
small bats found during the winter so that
the possibility of a rare species can be
eliminated. Corpses found in reasonable
condition should be put in the freezer until
collection can be arranged!
In February, for the first time in 20 years
(see page 100 of David Corke's book 'The
Nature of Essex'), a bat search' was
arranged in the Hangman's Wood deneholes
in Grays. These old chalk mines were known
to be a hibernation site for bats in the
1880's and one hundred years later 6 Dau-
benton's and 4 Natterer's bats were found
during a particularly cold spell of weather.
This site is unique in Essex and with the
help of Thurrock Council, pot-holing by
local youth clubs has been banned during the
winter months so that it may again achieve
good populations of hibernating bats.
In mid-April the second new species for the
survey was discovered. A Leisler's bat
was found dying on a front lawn in Billericay,
to be followed by a second, recovered three