On the Island we have recorded the following bat species:
Greater Horseshoe Bat
Very rare; almost extinct
Daubenton’s Bat
Locally frequent; hunts over water. The millpond behind the Eight Bells public house at Carisbrooke is a good place to find them, after dark.
Whiskered Bat
Locally frequent
Brandt’s Bat
Difficult to distinguish from Whiskered Bat, and believed to be rare
Natterer’s Bat
Locally frequent
Bechstein’s Bat
A rare woodland bat but probably widespread in woods on the Island.
Common Pipistrelle bat
Our commonest bat; frequently found in modern houses.
Soprano Pipistrelle Bat
Frequent, but less common than the Common Pipistrelle
Serotine Bat
One of our more frequent house-roosting bats
Noctule Bat
Widespread but believed to be in decline. A large tree bat.
Leisler’s Bat
Not confirmed but recent evidence suggests it may have been overlooked.
Barbastelle Bat
This rare bat is now thought to be not infrequent in woods on the Island
Brown Long-eared Bat
One of our commonest bats, often roosting in large buildings.
Grey Long-eared Bat
Considered to be the rarest native British bat. The island appears to be one of its few strongholds.
Nathusius’s Pipistrelle Bat
A few records. Generally considered to be a rare migrant but may be resident here.
Kuhl’s Pipistrelle
We have one record of this extremely rare vagrant species.
Parti-coloured Bat
We have two records of this extremely rare vagrant species.
