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September 27, 2023
A collection of comical illustrations of the different bat species found in the Lost Woods has been created by Michael Blencowe, the project’s Senior Community Development Worker.
Michael, who is also an author and wildlife guide, wanted to help people differentiate between the species of bats found in southeast England and Sussex woodlands. He came up with these illustrations to bring to life the behaviours of the bats that live in the trees of the Lost Woods.
If you are part of a conservation, sustainability or wildlife group, find out how the Lost Woods team can support your group with talks on wildlife knowledge, training or advice on growing your group’s membership.
Michael says: "Brown Long-eared bats have huge ears. They don't need to echolocate. They can just hear insects moving around as their hearing is so good."
Michael says: "Common & Soprano Pipistrelles look similar - but the Soprano echolocates at a higher frequency."
Michael says: "Daubenton's is a bat that catches insects from the surface of ponds and is also called the water bat."
Michael says: "Noctules live in old woodpecker holes in trees and call from the tree to draw in females - they end up with a whole group of female Noctules."
Michael says: "Serotines make an off-beat echolocation call that sounds like a jazz drummer."
Michael says: "Barbastelles are 'the stealth bat'. Very sneaky. They echolocate quietly and sneak up on tiny moths."
Michael says: "Greater Horseshoe Bats have just been discovered in south east England near Petworth for the first time in 100 years. Their echolocation calls come from their noses, not their mouths like all the other bats."
Michael says: "Myotis bats, well there's a few of them and they all look alike.
"Bit of a confusing group of a few different species and some of these are rare, all very hard to tell apart."
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