Mammals

 The Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) are small and agile, these bats have a wingspan of about 20-23 cm and weigh between 3.5 and 8 grams. They are often seen at dusk, fluttering around gardens, parks, and woodland edges, hunting for insects such as flies, moths, and mosquitoes. 

Fun fact:   The Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) is one of the most widespread and abundant bat species in the UK. Small and agile, these bats have a wingspan of about 20-23 cm and weigh between 3.5 and 8 grams. They are often seen at dusk, fluttering around gardens, parks, and woodland edges, hunting for insects such as flies, moths, and mosquitoes.  

(Photo credit: Ibat.org)

 The fox, particularly the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), is a familiar and adaptable mammal found throughout the UK, inhabiting rural and urban areas alike. Recognizable by its reddish-brown fur, bushy tail, and pointed ears, the red fox is an opportunistic feeder, eating a varied diet that includes small mammals, birds, insects, and fruit.

Fun fact: Foxes communicate using a range of vocalizations, including a distinctive scream-like call, which is often heard during the mating season in winter.

(Photo credit: Highland Safari)

The Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) is one of the smallest bat species and is distinguished from the common pipistrelle by its higher-pitched echolocation calls and slight differences in fur colour and size. These bats are typically found in woodlands, farmlands, and urban areas, where they roost in tree cavities, buildings, and bat boxes. They are most active at dusk and dawn, feeding on small insects such as midges and mosquitoes.

Fun fact:  The Soprano Pipistrelle bat often forms large maternity colonies during the summer, with up to several hundred females gathering to give birth and rear their young together. This communal living helps protect the pups and ensures a higher survival rate. 

(Photo credit: Ibat.org)