9
ends and behind hanging tiles. The bats are
very mobile and do not seem to stay in houses
for long periods, the three week stay in
Danbury of one group last summer was the
longest to date.
During this survey, it has been satisfying to
record a Whiskered bat for only the second time
this century. A small bat, about the size of
a Pipistrelle, this species has been found
hibernating in Kent, but generally is very rare
in the South-East. In Autumn 1987, ironically,
one was -found roasting on the wall of Marconi's
radar factory in Chelmsford. Whether this bat
was a vagrant or part of an undiscovered colony
is not known. Elsewhere they spend the summer
in older properties and can be very difficult
to find in loft spaces. They seem to prefer
parkland ana water habitats in other counties.
Like the previous species, Daubenton's has
proved difficult to find, particularly away
from favoured hibernation sites. Up to 27
have been found hibernating in the deneholes at
Grays, but their summer roost is unknown.
With the aid of a car headlight, these bats can
be seen flying over Hanningfield reservoir on
summer evenings, but again their roost site is
unknown.
Like the other myotid species, Natterer's bat
has proved difficult to find. I suspect they
occur in very old churches and farm buildings,
as they do in other parts of the country.
However, in Esse:; only one example of breeding
has been proved, and that in a house at Brad-
well. Other records have been of individuals
found hibernating apart from 2 found dead in a