Bats in the Barn!

Bats in the Barn!

‘I’ve got a present for you!’ A big grin and Ellie held out her closed hand... last time she did this, a little face was peering out, a face like a Disney cartoon, alert bright eyes, alert big ears. She had brought the tiny endangered Bechstein’s Bat rescued from the road outside our garden...she had nurtured it back to strength and was about to release this little female into her home territory


Flying with new-found strength and purpose, the bat had flown directly towards our big old Bramley tree.

Ellie is a bat expert and licenced to handle bats. Her expertise and passion for her work is a particular delight for me because as a little girl of eight in my Wildlife Watch Group, she became inspired to help conserve animals and their habitats.

Today, Ellie and her partner (also an expert, a tree surgeon) were preparing to climb a ladder and hang our new bat box in the big old walnut tree on the dangerous slope at the top of the garden

Bat Gardening Tip: She had already chosen the position, high up, facing west with a good clear flight path approach and with a good area of trees nearby. (A well anchored stout pole would also fit the purpose, maybe offering less opportunity for predators which are always in the offing.) If you are making a bat box it is vital that the wood is untreated – wood preservatives poison bats... through their feet, the point of contact when resting

On the ‘Bechstein’s visit’ we had been staggered to hear (via Ellie’s bat detector) the calls of five different species of bat. To our amazement we had almost been ‘buzzed’ by a Greater Horseshoe flying out of our old barn low over our heads. 



The old mines of Winsley are a national bat hotspot where they hibernate over winter 


Now Ellie was standing there with another bat surprise in her hand... she opened it to expose the surest sign of an animal’s presence... yes, you’ve got it... droppings! But this was no ordinary poo, it had fortuitously dropped down from the roof into a bucket in the barn. And, it was from no ordinary bat (I did say Ellie was an expert, she can tell species just from the droppings!). These were from a Lesser Horseshoe Bat (3, 4, 5) – another species approaching an endangered status.

Ellie explained bats like to have a night roost where they can chill out for a while in between hunting sorties (beetles, gnats, moths) during the night... not to be muddled with a females and young roost


 or the very specific needs of a winter hibernation roost (5).

As if this news was not exciting enough, as we sat and chatted she saw a Pipistrelle Bat squeeze out from under our roof tiles. Then we all instinctively ducked as a bat suddenly zoomed low over our heads – of course, a totally unnecessary action as bats are expert at high speed efficient navigation and accurate fliers! During an hour or so we heard and saw Noctule, Serotine, Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle and...a Lesser Horseshoe, possibly ‘ours’


! Long after it was dark we checked the barn, looked up – at ordinary roofing membrane. And there they were, two tiny creatures, hanging upside down, hugging themselves round with dark wings! Since then, at about 2230 we have seen one quietly circling in the peak of the roof.

... And the bat box


 is ready in waiting for whoever comes!


Photo credits: 3, 4, 5, 6 Ellie Hack. 1, 2, 7, 8 – photo of bat display at London Wetland Centre Nicolette Scourse.


More wonderful stories and amazing bat facts...


Talk by Bat Expert Ellie Hack

St Nicholas Church Winsley, 7.30 pm

Tuesday 30th September.

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