17 Oct 2025

The grey long-eared bat has an estimated UK population of only 1000 individuals, but licenced surveys at Seaton Wetlands this year have recorded 13 individuals.

In May, Nature Reserves Ranger Ben Morgan-Brown from the Countryside team was lucky enough to be present when Professor Fiona Mathews (former Chair of the UK Mammal Society) caught a single female grey long eared during a trapping session focusing on migratory Nathusius’ pipistrelle bats.

Buoyed by this exciting encounter Ben arranged for the Devon Bat Conservation and Research Group (of which he is an active member) to conduct further licensed trapping sessions. Over four nights 118 bats were trapped, with 9 species recorded, and an additional 12 grey long eared bats found.

These bats were ringed so that they can be monitored in the future, adding to our understanding of how grey long-eared bats are using Seaton Wetlands and the wider landscape.

Sophie Duncan, Records Officer for Devon Bat Conservation and Research Group said “to encounter so many grey long-eared bats was fantastic, and a great opportunity for our members! Seaton Wetlands is obviously an important site for this species, and the group is very grateful for the chance to conduct surveys and build on our research at other local sites”

Councillor Richard Jefferies, Portfolio Holder for Environment – Nature & Climate, said: “We were very excited about finding one Grey long-eared bat in May, but an astonishing further 12 individuals over the summer is a huge tribute to the site and the work that the East Devon Countryside team do. This highlights the importance of working with other organisations. Together we are providing thriving habitats and discovering through monitoring wildlife that we have some of the rarest species in the UK here in East Devon”.

James Chubb, Countryside Manager added: “Grey long eared bats are one of the named priority species in our Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme for Seaton Wetlands, so to have definitive proof the species is thriving on the nature reserve is hugely satisfying”

For more information on Seaton Wetlands and the other nature reserves managed by the Countryside Team please visit www.wildeastdevon.co.uk. Information on bats and local bat groups can be found at www.bats.org.uk