9
Also in July three dead Serotines were found
at the roost in Wickford where four adjacent
houses are used. In June a fifth house was
being used, but this could not be located.
The Highlight of the year (and perhaps the
most frustrating incident) came in August.
On the evening before I went on holiday, a
lady from Danbury telephoned to say that
she had bats and could I get rid of them.
I looked in the loft space and found 10
Leisler's Bats clustered together - the
first confirmed Essex colony, and one of
only a handful known in the country.
Eighteen bats emerged that evening with a few
still left in the cavity wall. Unfortunately
by the time I returned the bats had moved on
although they are still in the area as recent
sightings in Danbury and Little Baddow have
proved. It is hoped that this colony can
be re-found next year by means of a leaflet
drop or local advertising.
Since then dead Brown Long-Eared Bats have
been reported from Stisted, Little Baddow,
Thaxted and Thorpe-le-Soken, a moribund
Daubenton's from Colchester and a similar
Serotine from Pitsea. If anybody has any
further information on bats in 1986 please
contact me on Danbury 4408.
JOHN DOBSON
A CARNIVORE IN DECLINE?
The Stoat (Mustela erminea) - a small,
reddish-brown animal with a black tip to its