How to spot bats in Hampshire

If you’ve ever been on an evening walk along a canal or river, or through woodland, you might have seen bats darting along the horizon. They’re a fascinating mammal, which can be spotted swooping down to the water to catch prey or returning to roost in trees or under bridges.

While there are 1400 species of bats worldwide, just 18 species live in the UK, all of which have been protected by law since 1981. Excitingly, 17 of these species can be found in Hampshire.

Knowing how and when to spot bats can be difficult, so here are some of our top tips.

Get kitted out

Bats use echolocation to hunt and navigate. While this is audible to them, for humans it’s harder to hear. If you’re looking to start regularly bat spotting, then hire or buy a bat detector to help you out. As bats are nocturnal, the low light will affect your sight. This is where bat detectors can help you out.

Bat detectors translate the ultrasound waves bats use to echolocate into a frequency detectable by humans, so you can use your hearing to find bats. Once you’ve narrowed down where the bats are flying or roosting, you can then see what you can spot. As each species of bat has a different echolocation pattern and frequency, you can also use bat detectors to identify them.

Go spotting in summer

Summer is the best season to go bat spotting, from the warmest days in May through to September. Bats begin to hibernate from October when the weather starts to get cooler, so as exciting as it might be to see a bat at Halloween, it’s trickier than you might think.

Arrive for twilight

Dusk is the best time to see bats as that’s when they come out to feed. The first half an hour after sunset particularly is when they’re most active. Bats also like to fly in the dark so pick a spot with as little light pollution as possible and keep your eyes peeled.

Choose a dry night

There’s no need for raincoats and wellies when you’re hunting for bats. This is because bats are most active on dry, still nights. This is because moisture in the air affects echolocation, so they struggle to find insects and avoid obstacles. Flying in the wind and rain also uses up a lot of energy as bats have to fight against the weather to hunt. So, copy the bats and stay out of the rain.

Look at the water

One of the best spots to see bats is by a body of water, like a river or a canal. Water provides a good source of insects, like mayflies and caddis flies, as well as a clear guide for bats to their preferred hunting grounds. Watch the skyline at dusk to see the silhouette of bats swooping down towards the water in search of their prey.

Avoid open areas

Bats are often hunted by larger predators like owls and cats. To avoid being eaten, bats stick to sheltered environments, like areas with plenty of trees. This gives them a better chance to stay hidden or evade predators. So, to be in with the best chance to see bats, stay away from open areas of land.

Join a group

Whether you’re just getting started or want to get more involved in the conservation and identification of bats, joining a group can be a fun next step. Groups like Hampshire Bat Group have regular meetings and host guided walks as well as bat detector workshops. So, you can become a part of a community whilst also learning more about the animals you love.

Call the experts

If you find an injured or sick bat, it’s important that you immediately contact the Bat Conservation Trust. Either visit their website or the National Bat Helpline, and they’ll be able to tell you how to help.