On Saturday 20 September 2025, the Maryburgh Community Woodland Group hosted a memorable Bat Walk through our community woodland. We extend heartfelt thanks to every resident, visitor, and supporter who joined us for this special evening.

Weather & Atmosphere
After a week of rainy and windy evenings, we hoped for a clear, mild night—​and the weather delivered. The sky stayed dry, the temperature remained just warm enough, and the wind was barely a whisper, creating perfect conditions for both people and bats alike.

A small section of the participants in the Bat Walk

A Turn‑out Beyond Expectations
The response was astonishing. While we initially worried that the village-wide power outage might keep people home, the turnout far exceeded our wildest hopes. By the time we counted 30 participants, we stopped tallying; the crowd continued to grow, filling the grassed area with enthusiastic observers.

Bat Highlights Along the Trail

• Soprano Pipistrelle (first sighting) – A tiny soprano pipistrelle was the first to emerge, gracefully looping above the trees at the woodland’s edge, just beyond the grassy gathering area.
• Pipistrelles on Dunglass Road – As we strolled along Dunglass Road, additional pipistrelle activity kept the excitement high.
• Three Species on the Core Path
  1. Common Pipistrelle – Near the lower end of the path, a gap in the canopy revealed a common pipistrelle darting through the air.
  2. Daubenton’s Bat – Further up the path, the unmistakable echolocation clicks of a Daubenton’s bat rang out. Though typically linked to water, spotting this species in the woodland was a delightful surprise.
  3. Soprano Pipistrelle – Sheltered by an ancient oak, a lively soprano pipistrelle circled repeatedly, likely hunting the swarms of midges that gather at dusk.

As we reached the gate at the top of the track and turned onto the path parallel to Birch Drive, a cool breeze set in, and the bat activity tapered off for the night.

Special Thanks
Our gratitude also goes to the H&I Climate Hub, whose generous funding allowed us to acquire a new bat detector that connects directly to a smartphone. This equipment enhanced our ability to hear and identify the bats’ ultrasonic calls in real time, enriching the experience for everyone present.

Thank you again to all who made the Bat Walk a resounding success. Your enthusiasm and support help preserve the natural wonders of Maryburgh’s Community Woodland for years to come. We look forward to many more evenings of wildlife discovery together!

An oscillogram and spectrogram of a Daubenton’s bat echolocation “clicks”

An oscillogram and spectrogram of a Soprano Pipistrelle bat echolocation “clicks”

Bat Locations
Check out the bat locations – each dot on the map below is where we located a bat. Click on the map to see a larger scale map.

Map of Maryburgh Community Woodland showing the records of the bat sightings