Rare species of bat spotted during nature walk

A BAT walk at an East Devon nature reserve has led to the discovery of one of Britain's rarest mammals - the elusive grey long-eared bat.

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The species, which numbers fewer than 1,000 in the UK, was recorded at Seaton Wetlands after an evening event led by the East Devon District Council Countryside Team.

It is only the second confirmed sighting at the site, with the last recorded in 2013.

Following the public event, nature reserves ranger Ben Morgan-Brown joined Professor Fiona Mathews, an international bat expert, for further trapping as part of a migration study focused on Nathusius' pipistrelle.

Although they were unable to capture the target species, a female grey long-eared bat was unexpectedly caught in one of Fiona's harp traps.