Autumn Bat Box Checks

This autumn checks of the bat boxes each autumn for repairs and replacements reveal small residents.

On Tuesday 1 October, our Reserve Manager Suzi Lanaway and Licensed Bat Handler Paul Stevens did their annual autumn checks of the 30 bat boxes onsite at WWT Arundel. This check determines the condition of our bat boxes to see if any require replacing or repairs.

While checking the boxes Suzi and Paul discovered 40 soprano pipistrelles roosting inside various boxes. Paul had to replace a sleepy pipistrelle who rolled out of a box during the checks. (Photo above)

As we approach the colder months, October is the last chance for us to record bats on our monthly surveys, using bat detectors after dark. In a matter of weeks, most bats will be hibernating in larger roosts offsite.

For the past few winters, we have had brown long-eared bats hibernating in our Sand Martin hide, inside the closed-off chamber rooms. We had to delay checking one wing of the Sand martin hide nesting bank last autumn as brown long-eared bats were hibernating there. Bats do not ‘sleep’ all winter. On milder evenings they awaken and leave the roost to eat and drink.

We also check the nooks and crannies on outbuildings where bats might be tucking themselves away. Pipistrelle bats can squeeze into the tiniest gaps! We already have bat boxes in the Sand Martin hide, on the Scrape hide and Lapwing hide. We will then put-up bat boxes on buildings where it looks like bats have begun roosting.

Nine species of bats show up on our monthly bat surveys at Arundel from April – October. During our recent bat survey on Sep 11, we recorded four species: soprano pipistrelles, noctule bats, Daubenton’s bats, and a Leisler’s bat.

in 2025.

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