2025 Somerset Big Bat Counts

It was a another highly successful year for our community engagement event, the Big Bat Count.

The list of Big Bat Counts in 2025 is below:

  1. Fri 2nd May – Frome 1
  2. Sat 10th May – Shepton Beauchamp
  3. Fri 16th May – Highbridge
  4. Sat 17th May – Bridgwater
  5. Sat 7th June – Berrow
  6. Fri 25th July – Ham Hill villages
  7. Sat 9th August – Castle Cary
  8. Tues 19th August – Frome 2
  9. Sat 23rd Aug – Blagdon Hill, Taunton
  10. W’end 6/7 Sept – Stoke St Gregory
  11. Sat 13th Sept – Longrun, Taunton

The results FAQ aims to answer many common questions about the results. Including explanations of why:

  • some observations end up miles away
  • the numbers of the “on the night” observations, and verified records added later differ. 

Fri 2nd May – FROME BIG BAT COUNT #1

Great turnout for Frome Big Bat Count #1 - 2May25
Results ready for counters to return at Frome Big Bat Count #1 - 2May25
Frome Big Bat Count 2May25 - Bat Map produced on the night

Another fully booked Big Bat Count at Frome saw around 50 people in 10 teams set off into a warm still night. Our thanks once again to Jo and Frome Town Council for superb organising.

A total of 154 bat observations were made across 10 Species. The two Pipistrelle species were again the most commonly seen, but there were more Noctule observed than Serotine, than for the same time last year.

Initial unverified observations from the night of 2nd May 2025 are in iNaturalist:

The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have been analysed, and the numbers of bats does seem to be slightly down on last year. This may be due to the dry spring? But more data is needed. Unfortunately the majority of the observations of Noctules could not be verified and only 1 record was uploaded.

There are now an extra 61 verifiable bat recordings uploaded to iNaturalist across 5 species, Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle, Common Pipistrelle, Serotine, Daubenton’s, Noctule and a possible whiskered, which needs more validation.

Sat 10th May ’25 – Shepton Beauchamp

A clear still night saw around 25 people in 8 teams set off to survey the night skies of Shepton Beauchamp. Our thanks to Jeff from the Cowleaze Meadow community group for organising and hosting.

A total of 62 bat observations were made across 7 Species on the night. The Common Pipistrelle was most commonly seen, but there were lots of observations of Noctule and Serotine.

Initial unverified observations from the night of 2nd May 2025 are in iNaturalist:

The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have now been analysed, and there are an extra 94 verifiable bat recordings uploaded to iNaturalist across 8 species, 

Common Pipistrelle was the most frequently recorded, then Serotine, Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle and Noctule The single faint recordings of the two Myotis species Daubenton’s and whiskered, along with those of the rare Lesser Noctule (Leisler’s) and Western Barbastelle will need more validation.

Fri 16th May ’25 – Highbridge

Highbridge Big Bat Count briefing - 16May25
Highbridge Big Bat Count HQ in the car park - 16May25

Around 25 people met in Bank Street car park under a clear sky, but with a cold wind blowing. Learning the lesson from last year the 4 teams started 1/2 hour after sunset as fortunately the wind started to drop.

A total of 87 bat observations were made across 5 Species on the night. With the Soprano (Pygmy) and Common and Pipistrelle making the bulk of the observations alongside a handful of Noctules.

Initial unverified observations from the night of 16th May 2025 are in iNaturalist:

The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have now been analysed, and there are an extra 67 verifiable bat recordings uploaded to iNaturalist across 5 species, 

Common Pipistrelle and Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle were by far and away the most frequently recorded. The single recordings of Noctule, Daubenton’s and Nathusius’ Pipistrelle around Apex will need more validation.

Sat 17th May ’25 – Bridgwater

It was lovely to return to Wilstock Country Park for our second count there. Our thanks to Roger for organising again. Under a still cloudless sky around 25 people in 4 teams set off to survey the bats coming out of the housing around the park.

A total of 47 bat observations were made across 6 Species on the night. With the Common and Soprano (Pygmy) and being the most frequently observed. Last year’s verified record of a Leisler’s (Lesser Noctule) was repeated with another, as yet unverified, observation.

The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have now been analysed, and there are an extra 38 verifiable bat recordings uploaded to iNaturalist from 3 species, 

Common Pipistrelle and Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle the most frequently recorded. With a single recording of  Nathusius’ Pipistrelle at the far western end, which will need more validation.

Sun 15th June – Berrow

This count had to be rescheduled due to weather, and hence four small teams from Berrow Conservation Group, set off on a clear, but quite breezy night.

With just two teams recording in iNaturalist there were just 9 observations on the night, all of Common Pipistrelle.

The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have now been analysed, and there are an extra 34 verifiable bat recordings uploaded to iNaturalist from 4 species, 

Common Pipistrelle were by far and away the most frequently seen, but Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle were also recorded south of St. Mary’s Church. Serotine where recorded east of Berrow village. While a single recording of a possible Nathusius’ Pipistrelle near the pond south of St. Mary’s Church which will need more validation.

Fri 25th July – Ham Hill Villages

A large group of around 40 met at the Rangers Station at top of Ham Hill, then split up into 11 teams to survey the surrounding villages. A warm night, with some cloud saw mixed results with some teams seeing lots of bats, and others few.

Just three teams were recording in iNaturalist, so the on the night results are limited, but do include single observations of Greater Horseshoe and Lesser Horseshoe:

The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have now been analysed, and there are an extra 100 verifiable bat recordings uploaded to iNaturalist from an amazing 13 species, a new Big Bat count record!

Common Pipistrelle were by far and away the most commonly seen, then Serotine, Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle and Common Noctule were also frequent. It was nice to get a couple of verifiable recordings of Nathusius’ Pipistrelle, and a woodland bat the Western Barbastelle.

The single recordings of Lesser and Greater Horseshoe near Montacute are unmistakable. While the recordings of the 3 Myotis species; Brandt’s, Daubenton’s, and Natterer’s, will be a lot more difficult to verify. As will the recordings of the Brown Long-eared Bat and the very rare Grey Long-eared Bat. However, Somerset’s rarest bat, the Grey Long-eared is known in the area, so this is possible

Sat 9th August – Castle Cary

A clear, but breezy night saw us return to the site of our first Big Bat Count. Our thanks again to local member Neville for the superb organising. Around 30 people took part with 6 teams heading around Cary, while two teams set off to survey Carymoor marsh for the first time in a Big Bat Count.

With 6 teams recording in iNaturalist on the night, there were 87 observations across 6 species, with Common Pipistrelle making up the majority. But there were also good numbers of Serotine and Soprano Pipistrelle.

The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have now been analysed. There are an extra 74 verifiable bat recordings uploaded to iNaturalist across 8 species.

Common Pipistrelle was the most numerous, forming nearly two thirds of the recordings. Then Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle, and Serotine. The few recordings of Brown Long-eared, Noctule and the three Myotis species: Daubenton’s, Bechstein’s and Brandt’s will need more validation.

Tues 19th August – FROME BIG BAT COUNT #2

The Frome Council chamber was packed out, and the count fully booked again, for the second Big Bat Count in Frome. Around 60 people in 11 teams set off into a warm overcast evening. Our thanks once again to Jo from Frome Town Council for brilliant organisation, and Sonia from the “WhenInFrome” podcast for coming to record us.

A total of 187 bat observations were made across 12 species. Numbers were up on the May count in spring’25, but are down on the number of observations in 2024. The two Pipistrelle species were again the most commonly seen, but this time there were more Serotine observed than Noctule for the same time last year.

Initial unverified results, showing observations from 19th August are in iNaturalist:

Sat 23rd Aug – Blagdon Hill

On a clear still night, around 25 people from the Blagdon Hill ‘Greener and Wilder’ project, met in the garden of the Lamb and Flag Pub. Our thanks to Linda for the superb organising!

With 6 teams set off, and observed 66 bats across 11 different autoIDed species. Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle made up the majority. But there were also good numbers of Serotine and Noctule. The remaining small number of observations of different species will need more validation.

The recording stored on the tablets will be analysed in the coming weeks, and more verifiable records uploaded to iNaturalist.

Sat 6th Sept – Stoke St Gregory Big Bat Count

Bryony from the Wildlife trust was running this count for Stoke St Gregory Environment Group. On “a really lovely evening weather wise” around 14 people set off to hunt bats, but due to issues with the new iNaturalist iPhone app there were fewer groups than hoped, so everyone could have an Android in their group.

The results from Stoke St. Gregory are in iNaturalist:

Sat 13th Sept – Longrun meadow Big Bat Count

Volunteers from Longrun in Taunton were helped by Patrick from the Wildlife Trust, to run a Big Bat Count in the meadows. A very iffy weather forecast meant it was a last minute call on going ahead. But the groups still saw both Pips and Noctule.

The results from Longrun are in iNaturalist: