With the old village hall standing empty for some time, I was a little concerned that protected species such as bats might have taken up residence.  I’m pleased to say that so far there are no signs that they have.  There are plenty of bats around the village though!

Just a walk around at dusk this week found:

• Two pipistrelle bats flying across the road, travelling between the garage and the old chapel.  I would think they were commuting to their feeding grounds.
• At the bottom of the lane beside the old hall (near the gate to the pike lakes) there were lots feeding: pipistrelles, possibly a serotine and an unidentified bat that could be a Barbastelle but they are quite rare.  Quite of few of these were flying along the gap between the back of the school and the trees behind, catching insects and wheeling back again.
• At Hubbards Loke one or two pipistrelle finding insects around the street lights.
• Down at the river there are lots of bats there: pipistrelle, Natterers and Daubentons all feeding, and noctules flying past.

For more information on bats; Norwich Bat Group.