Bats of Somerset Wildlands

As part of the eco-acoustic monitoring we conducted on four of our rewilding sites back in 2023 we took recordings of the ultrasonic noises made by bats. These have now been analysed by students at the University of Sussex and the results provide a valuable insight into the different species using our locations.

In all 11 different bat species were recorded from across the sites, including locally rare species like the Nathusius’ Pipistrelle and Leisler’s Noctule. Interestingly the highest species richness came from Waste Drove, a small rewilding site but one which has been going the longest - about 7-8 years by the time that the surveys were done. This site showed nearly double the species richness of the recently purchased East-Waste site which is almost directly adjacent to it.

Our larger site at Athelney came next, which is perhaps unsurprising given its scale and the amount of water it holds, but it will be fascinating to see how this changes in the coming years.

We also got good evidence that populations of bats, including our largest species - the noctule - may well be roosting in the trees of White Drove, something we had previously had no indication of.

Site Species Richness

• Athelney - 8

• Waste Drove - 10

• East Waste - 5

• Whites Drove - 7

List of species recorded at Somerset Wildlands’ sites

Common Serotine Eptesicus serotinus

Daubenton’s Myotis Myotis daubentonii

Whiskered Myotis Myotis mystacinus

Leisler’s Noctule Nyctalus leisleri

Noctule Nyctalus noctula

Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii

Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus

Brown Long-Eared Bat Plecotus auritus

Greater Horseshoe Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

Lesser Horseshoe Bat Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros

You can find more information on bats at Somerset Wildlands site in the full report, which is available here. We would like to give a huge thanks to the staff and students (Juliahna Mistretta, Elisabeth Davis, Laura Badger, Aleksandra Pankiewicz) at the University of Sussex for all their hard work.