In the summer we joined a Rye Harbour Nature Reserve night-time wildlife walk! We met in the evening at the Discovery Centre for a presentation on nocturnal wildlife and an introduction to Sussex bats by Michael Blencowe. The talk was very fun and informative – we learnt about nocturnal species in Sussex, as well as nocturnal microscopic creatures that live in the pores of your face!
When it was dark we walked to the Rye Harbour Village Church. Michael Blencowe, Matt (RHNR Ranger) and Lucy (RHNR lead for Education and Engagement activities) handed us all bat detectors. We had instructions to select the frequency to listen in to, and waited until a bat using that frequency flies over – its call is broadcast on to the detectors.
The night was full of bats!
As children, my sister and I could hear the bats as they came over with our own ears too, before the detectors started clicking, but the adult members of the group could not.
We walked from the church along to the Reedbed Viewing Platform and listened to the bats there. It was very fun to be out late in the nature reserve listening to the different sounds and species of bats.
We identified species of Noctule, Natterer’s and the three Pipistrelles – Nathusias, Common and Soprano bats.
Following this adventure, this autumn we have enjoyed the opportunity to record bats over a 5 week period on the northern part of the Reserve, next to the Brede River. This was using Barry Yates’ brilliant Bat Recorder – with the recordings analysed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)!
These are the bat sounds that were recorded over 6 nights, spread over 5 weeks during September and October 2023:
6 night total activity
Brandt’s Bat 19
Daubenton’s Bat 13
Natterer’s Bat 12
Leisler’s Bat 1
Noctule 10
Nathusius’ Pipistrelle 537
Common Pipistrelle 2166
Soprano Pipistrelle 347
We were delighted to see that we recorded 8 different species! Several more were suggested from the recordings, but the BTO analysis could not offer a high enough ‘confidence level’ for all to be reported here.
We were particularly impressed to learn about the huge number of confirmed recordings of the Common Pipistrelle – 2166 separate recordings in just 6 nights!
The Daubenton’s Bat is always found close to water. We are really pleased to find it on the River Brede.
My sister has done some research about the top 5 recorded species, and she has put these information boxes together to share with you.
Image Credits: Daniel Hargreaves-Scotlink , Denley Photography .