Bats

A brief ultrasound survey in 2002 recorded around 6-7 clear signals with the characteristics of a common pipistrelle in the area around the old Dounreay Farmhouse.

Additional signals were recorded and one actual sighting was made of a bat flying in the north-eastern section of the site. The main area of activity appeared to be in the vicinity of the old Farmhouse and the Castle but the recordings suggested a flight path along the coastal edge of the Dounreay buildings to the north east and around the north-eastern end of the site towards the stand of spruce. The ultrasound survey suggested a relatively low population density with perhaps 2-3 adults present.

No roosting spaces have been identified.

There may be caves along the coast in which the bats could roost or hibernate. While the majority of buildings at Dounreay do not appear, from the external construction characteristics, to provide ideal roosting habitat, certain buildings of the Dounreay complex could also provide perhaps temporary roosts

In September 2002, a pair of pipistrelles was observed by the police wildlife liaison officer to be roosting in the roof space of one of the more modern office buildings.
 

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