AN exhausted bat found clinging a charity shop wall in Clacton might have flown all the way across the North Sea before ending up in Essex.

The Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat was exhausted, underweight and dehydrated when it was discovered.

The bat, which was found clinging to the front wall of the Arthritis Research UK shop in Rosemary Road, may have flown all the way from Europe. 

It was taken into care and nursed back to health by Essex Bat Group’s Bat Care Network and released again in Clacton last week.

The discovery in Clacton coincides with the recent capture of a male Nathusius’ pipistrelle in Sussex which was ringed in Latvia on August 20 this year. The species is rarely seen in the UK.

It was caught at Rye Harbour on October 10, six weeks after it was ringed, having flown a distance of at least 1,458km to reach the UK.

Pat Hatch, chairman of the Essex Bat Group, said: “The group is taking part in a national study of the Nathusius’ pipistrelle and its migratory habits.

“The species is known to migrate long distances between north eastern Europe and south west Europe.

“The capture of a Latvian bat in Sussex has proved migration from the continent to Britain for the first time.

“It is highly likely that Essex lies on the migration route for these little bats, which weigh about 7 – 10 grammes.”

The ‘citizen science’ research project is being run almost entirely by volunteers.

It consists of the use of live traps to catch bats, the fitting of lightweight aluminium rings to any Nathusius’ pipistrelles that are caught and the collection of fur samples. Fur samples are analyzed to determine the recent movements of the bat.