2026 Somerset Big Bat Counts

As part of the Great Somerset Wildlife Count, the Bat Group is helping people to find and count the bats of their local area with our new community mapping project.

If you are a community group (wildlife, gardening, church …etc), or just a group of friends or neighbours, in Somerset who would like help to do a Big Bat Count on your patch then please do get in touch – somersetbatgroup@gmail.com

The current list of Big Bat Counts currently planned for 2026 is listed below:

Fri 1st May – Frome1 Big Bat Count
Tue 12th May – Axevale
Sat 13th June – Shepton Beauchamp
Weds 24th June – Berrow
Sat 27th June – Heal rewilding
Fri 10th July – Highbridge
Sat 18th July – Otterhead
Sat 1st Aug – Castle Cary
Tue 4th Aug – Frome2 Big Bat Count
Fri 7th Aug – Blagdon Hill, near Taunton
Sat 8th Aug – SANHG, Taunton
Fri 14th Aug – Drayton
Sat 22nd Aug – Bridgwater
W’end 28 Aug – Kingsdon
Fri 11th Sept – Charltons

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 1^st May – Frome Big Bat Count

Frome never fails to disappoint, and we had another fully booked Big Bat Count, with many people new to bats. So around 60 people in 11 teams set off into a warm still night. Our thanks once again to Jo from Frome Town Council for superb organising.

A total of 138 bat observations were made across 11 Species. The two Pipistrelle species were again the most commonly seen, then Serotine and Noctule. There were a couple of Greater Horseshoes recorded, but only one added as an observation. As usual the EMT’s auto IDed a number of Leisler’s (lesser Noctule), but these usually turn out to be noise or Serotines after verification.

Initial unverified observations from the night of 1^st May 2026 are in iNaturalist:

Frome Big Bat Count, in the Council Chamber - 1st May 2026

The recordings made on the night have now been downloaded and analysed. There were a total 568 bat passes recorded across 7 species. The majority being Common Pipistrelle (33%) and Soprano Pipistrelle (32%). Serotine (12%) were also common, and there were a surprising number of Lesser Noctule (Leisler’s) 6% identified, which will need more verification. A handful of Daubenton’s (1%), a similar small number of Noctule, and lastly one recording of a Greater Horseshoe.

Tues 12^th May – Axevale Big Bat Count

Axevale Big Bat Count – on the night results

Around 21 people met in Cross Village Hall for a Big Bat Count organised by Axevale Climate Action.

A chilly and quite windy night saw 5 teams head out to survey Cross and Badgworth. A total of 63 bat observations were made across 10 species, with Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle being the most frequently observed. There was one observation of Greater Horseshoe near North Quarry. The other 7 species observed will need more verification.

Initial unverified observations from the night of 12^th May 2026 are in iNaturalist:

The recordings made on the night have now been downloaded and initial analysis done. There were a total 168 bat passes recorded across 7 species. The majority being Common Pipistrelle (40%) and Soprano Pipistrelle (36%). Serotine (8%) were also seen frequently. The remaining species were a small number of Noctule and Daubenton’s (2%), a possible Natterer’s, and lastly two recordings of Greater Horseshoes.

Sat 13^th June – Shepton Beauchamp Big Bat Count

On a warm and increasingly still summer night, around 18 people met in Shepton Beauchamp village Hall for a Big Bat Count by Cowleaze Meadow community group. Many thanks to Jeff for organising.

Six teams headed out to survey the village, and a total of 67 bat observations were made across 6 species, slightly up on the previous count in May 2025. Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle being the most frequently observed. There were three observations of Barbastelle, which are a possibility as one was verified at last year’s count.

Initial unverified observations from the night of 13th June 2026 are in iNaturalist:

The recordings made on the night have now been downloaded and initial analysis done. There were a total 236 bat passes recorded across 7 species. The majority being Common Pipistrelle (59%) and Soprano Pipistrelle (22%). Serotine (13%) were also heard frequently. There were a small number of Noctule (4%), and single recordings of Natterer’s, Whiskered and Lesser Noctule (Leisler’s) which will need more verification. Unfortunately, analysis did not find a recording of a Barbastelle this time.

Weds 24^th June – Berrow Big Bat Count

After several postponements due to weather we finally did a Big Bat Count in Berrow, and it turned out to be a record breaker:

The latest start – of any Big Big Bat Count to date. Sunset doesn’t get much later than 21:32!
The hottest ever count – 28°C at the start, dropping to 26°C at the end!

Around 15 people from the Berrow Conservation Group met in Berrow Dunes car park and split into three teams. For whatever reason it was a slow start, with the first bat seen at 10:11PM. This is perhaps due to heat, or maybe the wide open western sky’s? This story continued, with a total of only 15 bat observations made of 2 species. Common Pipistrelle and Noctule. The low number of bats is not due to lack of food, there were insects and moths in abundance. So perhaps the lack of suitable roosts nearby is the limiting factor?

Initial unverified observations from the night of 24th June 2026 are in iNaturalist:

Many thanks to Lesley for organising, and the patience with rescheduling.

The recordings made on the night have now been downloaded and initial analysis done. There were a total 64 bat passes recorded across possibly 4 species. The majority being Common Pipistrelle (51%) and Noctule (45%). There were also single recordings of possible Serotine and Lesser Noctule (Leisler’s) which will need more verification.

Sat 27^th June – Heal Rewilding Big Bat Count

Around 18 football refugees met on a warm and still night at Heal Rewilding near Witham Friary. After the briefing, the group split into 4 teams to explore different areas on the farm.

Slightly surprisingly it was a quiet bat night, with the first bats seen well after sunset, almost 10PM. A total of 29 bat observations were made across 5 species, with Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle being the most frequently observed. Along with a couple of Lesser Horseshoes, which roost in the farm buildings.

Initial unverified observations from the night of 27th June 2026 are in iNaturalist:

Many thanks to Katie and Keith for organising, and the help with rescheduling!

The recordings made on the night have now been downloaded and initial analysis done. There were a total 154 bat passes recorded across a possible 5 species. The majority being Common Pipistrelle (81%) and Soprano Pipistrelle (16%). There were two passes of Serotine and Daubenton’s. Then just a single recording of possibly a Nathusius’ Pipistrelle which will need more verification.