12
water tank in the loft. One was actually
found sitting on the ball cock!
Of the other species, a new roost of Leisler's
bats was -found at Hook End where they spent two
months. What was probably the same group
spent several days in Blackmore (3 km away)
be-fore disappearing for the summer. The
Aveley colony peaked at 62 and then left be-fore
the breeding season commenced.
A new record for Noctule was of one seen
feeding over the lake of Audley End house, but
the best views of this species was of about 30
bats feeding together over pasture at South
Woodham Ferrers in late May. This has been a
regular sight in the spring for the last few
years.
Only one new Serotine 10 km square was re-
corded. This was of 13 bats emerging from a
Braintree house in August. Further evidence
of this bat's presence in Essex churches came
with the finding of droppings at Gt. Henny,
Canewdon, Elmdon, Chrishall and Maldon, with a
dead juvenile (and plenty of droppings) found
in Asheldham church. At a regular site at
Abberton, at least three different properties
were occupied on a small estate during the
year.
flatterer's bats bred again at Bradwell and
another colony is present in the Fyfield area
with a young male found dying from cat—
inflicted wounds in the village in August.
These were the only records away from
hibernation sites.