Bats in Bedfordshire

Created  2009
Last Updated May 2020
“Bats are the least known of our native mammals, because their nocturnal habits and secluded daytime retreats make observation very difficult. Of the fourteen British species, only six have been recorded in Bedfordshire, though no doubt others occur”. Ray Palmer, 1949 The Wild Mammals of Bedfordshire (Beds.Mag.)
“There are no major shortages in Bedfordshire compared to adjacent counties, although it is possible that we could have got a few records of four bat species – Whiskered, Brandt’s, Leisler’s and Serotine”.  David Anderson, BNHS mammal recorder 1986 and founder member of the Bedfordshire Bat Group 1971  Mammals in Bedfordshire 1946-1971 (Beds.Nat.)

By 2008 there were records of 12 species of bats in Bedfordshire, and it was nice to be able to show that David’s prediction was accurate. The advent of bat detectors has been a major factor in this increase in numbers, though they are not the solution to every conundrum

By July 2016 we had found the following bats in Bedfordshire:
Click on the links for more information

The Bat Conservation Trust website has sound files of all British Bats here

Myotis Bats

Brandt’s Bat

Brandt's bat Ophptp Bopb Cornes

Brandt’s  bat Photo  Bob Cornes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daubenton’s Bat

Photo Bob Cornes

Daubenton’s Bat Photo Bob Cornes

Natterer’s Bat

Nattwerer's bat Photo Chantelle Waring

Nattwerer’s bat Photo Chantelle Waring

Whiskered bat

 Whiskered bat Photo Bob Cornes

Whiskered bat not taken in Beds Photo Bob Cornes


 

Pipistrelles


Common Pipistrelle

Common pipistrelle Photo by Bob Cornes

Common pipistrelle Photo by Bob Cornes

 

Soprano pipistrelle

Soprano PipstrelleP hoto Bob Cornes

Soprano Pipstrelle Photo Bob Cornes

Nathusius Pipistrelle

Nathusius pipistrelle Photo Bob Cornes

Nathusius pipistrelle Photo Bob Cornes


Big Bats


Noctule

Adult Noctule Photo Colin Edwards

Adult Noctule Photo Colin Edwards

 

 

Serotine

Serotine 6

 

Leisler’s Bat

Leisler's bat. Photo Bob Cornes

Leisler’s bat. Photo Bob Cornes


 

Big eared Bats

Brown long eared bat

Brown long eared bat Photo Laura Gravestock

Brown long eared bat Photo Laura Gravestock

 

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