8
of the Grays deneholes. Last year ten
bats were found and this year the total
was twelve of three species - Natterer's,
Daubenton's and Brown Long-Eared. Although
the figures are small, this increase may be
as a result of the restrictions on pot-
holing during the winter months. At the
same time, two more Daubenton's were found
hibernating in the Grays area at a new site.
During a cold spell at the end of April, dead
or dying Brown Long-Eared Bats and Serotines
were found in Fingringhoe, Colchester and
Billericay. At the end of May, 26 Serotines
were counted emerging from a Laindon house -
this is the best Essex count so far.
Pipistrelles took up residence in houses
early in June and probably had a successful
breeding season. Numbers at Little Baddow
were up on last year and at this time 710 bats
were counted at a house at West Hanningfield
In early July the heatwave ended and several
roost-owners reported that their bats had
moved, probably taking their young with them.
These bats were then lost to the survey
because their new landlords did not complain
to the local council or the Nature Conservancy
Counci1.
In July three counts of 34 were made at a
Noctule roost in Little Baddow when the bats
again moved in after the Starlings had finished
with the hole in an ash tree. Later in the
month a lady from Maldon rang to say she
thought she had 500 bats and was I interested?
The count that evening totalled 982, followed
by 1069 a few days later, with still more
bats squeaking in the roost. This count is
an English record (surpassed only by 1166 in
Scotland) and the story was publicised on
Ceefax.