Ranger column: A look at East Lothian's bats

Before you know it, it will be Christmas. However, before then, let’s make the most of the warm summer evenings and marvel at the natural wonders that are bats.

These fascinating mammals are very active this month, since for many of them it’s time to look for a mate. Most mating occurs during September and October, although the young will not be born until the next summer.

Bats have been around for at least 50 million years, which puts us to shame, and there are now over 1,400 species worldwide. These range from flying foxes – the size of a small dog – to the world’s smallest mammal, the bumblebee bat.

In the UK, there are roughly 18 species, of which nine or 10 get as far north as Scotland.

All of our bats feed on insects and most hunt by using echolocation, sending out loud signals which bounce back and are picked up by the bat’s incredibly sensitive ears.

The majority of Scottish bats fall into two genera – the pipistrelles and the myotis (mouse-eared) bats.

There are three species of pipistrelle and, whilst one is very rare, the other two are the bats we’re most likely to see in East Lothian.

A pipistrelle bat

Common and soprano pipistrelles often roost in loft spaces and as a result are frequently found in urban areas. Despite the names, soprano pipistrelles are usually the more common of the two, at least in this area.

Both species can be seen hunting for flying insects with a fast, jerky flight, often just above head height. If you’re really lucky, you may be able to hear the fluttering of wings as they pass.

Weighing roughly the same as a two pence piece, they are the smallest British bat – despite this, they can eat up to 3,000 flying insects every night. This fact indicates the importance of bats as natural pest controllers!

The assorted myotis species can be difficult to tell apart, even with a bat detector. However, the one you’re probably most likely to see is the Daubenton’s bat. This is a real specialist, feeding fast and low over ponds and slow-moving rivers, leading to some people comparing them to small hovercrafts.

They tend to roost close to water (unsurprisingly) and may use old bridges and boathouses, although natural caves and tree crevices are also popular. They’re less likely than pipistrelles to be seen in towns, although they’re not uncommon along the Tyne in Haddington or the Esk in Musselburgh.

A roosting Daubenton's bat

Another, more elusive, myotis is the Natterer’s bat. Like the Daubenton’s bat, it prefers to feed near water, but it’s much slower in flight and usually seen around bankside vegetation rather than skimming the surface.

The species gets its name from an Austrian naturalist Johann Natterer (1787-1843), not from the sounds it makes.

We may overlook bats sometimes – they come out at night and, without a bat detector, we probably won’t even know they’re around. However, they are an integral part of the ecosystems that we live in and, like most wildlife, need protection.

For anyone interested in helping bats, or simply finding out more about them, the Bat Conservation Trust website – bats.org.uk – is a pretty good starting place.