Mammals - Summer

Bats

We’ve out in late June to get a recording of the Pipistrelle bats flying around Roswell pits, and it can be head on the sounds page, where if you want you can join the ElyGreen’s RSS feed to hear the occasional sounds that we record from around Ely and the Fen. These small erratic movers are the most common of British bats at around two inches (five centimetres) long and a wingspan of eight to ten inches (18 to 25 centimetres wide). When we were out recording we found the more common of the two Pipstrelle bats, those that ecolocate using a nominal frequency of 44KHz, or about twice as high as we can hear, rather than the Soprano Pipstrelle that ecolocates at 55KHz
Top Spots
Woodland at the bottom of hill by Roswell Pits, just off Kiln Lane (TL 553 805 or N+52 24' 3" E+0 16' 54"), the North side of the same pit looking over from the rough track beyond the Ely Sailing Club and The Paradise Centre sports ground (TL 543 806 or N+52 24' 6" E+0 16" 3")

Badgers

Unfortunately whilst too often easily seen at the side of the road, we would love to know a good location where these stripy headed night wanderers are thriving. We are convinced there are gardens in Ely outskirts and surrounding villages where badgers are visiting. Peanut butter on bread is an irresistible lure for this night time visitor. Put some nutty treats out regularly and if they often disappear overnight then you probably have your very own visiting badgers
Top Spots
We saw one in Thetford Forest the other night whilst looking (well listening) for Nightjars - it scooted straight across the road in front of us! If we knew we'd put the information here. If you know where they are in the Ely10 tell us on the sightings page