The Essex Naturalist
33
Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii (Kuhl 1819)
During 1997 a survey for this species was undertaken at sites (identified from
Ordnance Survey maps) where both woodland and water were present. Each site
was monitored using a bat detector for up to two hours after sunset, and in this
way Daubenton's bats were identified from sixteen new 10km squares as follows:
TL70 Several feeding over Chelmer Blackwater canal
TL71 Several feeding over Leez Lodge lakes
TQ59 One recorded feeding over Weald Park lake
TL62 Several feeding over Little Easton lakes
TL53 One recorded over lake adjacent to Debden church
TL72 Several feeding over Gosfield lake
TL41 One feeding over River Stott at Spellbrook Lock
TM02 Several feeding over farm reservoir at Frating
TL93 One feeding over Stour at Nayland
TL90 Several feeding over gravel pit at Tillingham
TL91 One feeding over fishing lake at Layer de la Haye
TL61 Two feeding over fishing lake near Good Easter
TL60 Four feeding over fishing lake at Fryerning
TQ69 One feeding over fishing lake at Green Street
TQ68 Several feeding over lake in Thorndon Park South
TL30 Several feeding over reservoir at Fisher's Green
It is hoped to extend this survey into metropolitan Essex in 1998.
Serotine Eptesicus serotinus (Schreber 1774)
The only record was of eight bats emerging from a roost at Vange in May. This
colony has declined from 25 bats four years ago, and the future for this species in
Essex is now very bleak.
Noctule Nyctalus noctula (Schreber 1774)
The only new record was of an individual seen feeding over the Stour at
Foxearth (TL84) on 4th September.
Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl 1818)
The first record was of two bats feeding over Danbury Lakes on 2nd April. Cold
weather in May meant that roost counts did not take place until later with the
highest count of 50 bats emerging at Little Hallingbury. Other colonies were
again present at Aveley, Bicknacre, Danbury and Coggeshall. The last record of
the year was of one observed feeding at Bicknacre on 16th September.
Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber 1774)
The earliest record (3rd January) was perhaps the most notable with 53 bats
found hibernating above the ceiling tiles of a top-floor flat in Billericay.