After our recent amazing encounter with a large bat in broad daylight, there was an urgent need to check to see if there were more of these creatures frequenting the Lagoon. On Friday evening, a bat watch organised by Geof Haseler resulted in a group of WoodChips gathering in the twilight at the water’s edge.

With the temperature dropping under a clear sky, bat insect food was far from abundant. But since we were equipped with three different bat locators, it wasn’t long before we were both seeing and hearing several bats swooping over our heads and across the pool.
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Although the large bat didn’t favour us with a re-appearance, some of the smallest bats in the country did turn up. We recorded several Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus). These are so similar only their mothers (or a bat detector) could tell them apart. ​Use the links to discover more about these fascinating creatures.

Posted by Graham K.

​If you haven't already seen it,  click here for the latest edition of the WoodChips newsletter, sent out to everyone interested in the activities of our conservation volunteers in the Banstead Woods & Chipstead Downs Local Nature Reserve. 

This issue also announces an extra feature on this website, which now includes a selection of short Countryside Videos from our tasks and outings.

We welcome contributions for the newsletter or this website, including your photos, short videos, articles and sound clips. Please send them by email. And feel free to pass the newsletter on to anyone else you know who will be interested. 

Meanwhile, click on this link to enjoy our latest issue!