Bats in Essex in 2002
JOHN DOBSON
148, Main Road, Danbury, Essex CM3 4DT
In 2002, eight species of bat were recorded in Essex. These were both the Common and Soprano
Pipistrelles, Natterer's Bat, Daubenton's Bat, Noctule, Leisler's Bat, Serotine and Brown Long-
eared Bat. The following is a review of the more interesting records; however the highlight of the
year was the increase in bats using the converted bunkers at Coggeshall. These structures were first
monitored during the 1995/96 winter since which time numbers have steadily increased to 78 bats.
Totals are as follows;
The second highest count of 95 bats (70 Daubenton's and 25 Natterer's Bats) was counted in the
Grays deneholes in February 2002.
Other notable records were as follows:
Natterer's BM Myotis nattereri (Kuhl 1819)
Away from hibernation sites, droppings were found in churches at Little Sampford, Great Totham
and Wethersfield, and an injured bat was found in Colchester in early November.
Daubenton's Bat Myotis daubentonii (Kuhl 1819)
The first record was of several feeding over Danbury Lakes on 6 March with a hibernating individual
found at Beeleigh on 27 March - the same date that another was collected and released from
Braintree Museum. Breeding was recorded at Beeleigh Mill from where 74 bats emerged during
the summer.
This species was recorded for the first time from the south-east of the county with the discovery of
small numbers feeding in Priory Park, Prittlewell, during August. Other foraging records were
from Abberton Reservoir, Chigwell, Langford, Layer-de-la-Haye and Langham.
Serotine Eptesicus serotinus (Schreber 1774)
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Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)