Bat Boxes

Danny Fellman has been using different designs of bat box were he works in Bedford to see if there is a preference, as mentioned before, I had a text message on Saturady to tell me that he had found a single pipistrelle Pipistrellus spp. in one of the boxes I designed.

This is the first bat to use this design of box, although it was designed with species other than pipistrelles in mind, at least the design works!!!

Mid Bedfordshire Woodland Surveys

A further woodland survey undertaken in mid Bedfordshire.

Several bats were mist netted including Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus, Natterers Myotis nattereri and brown long eared Plecotus auritus.

Others including soprano pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus and Noctule Nyctalus noctula were also heard flying in the wood.

Martin

Further Woodland Surveys

Two woodland surveys have been undertaken over the last two days. One at Dunstable downs and the other at Luton Hoo.

The National Trust's site (Dunstable Downs): No bats were caught in the net but common pipistrelles Pipistrellus pipistrellus were heard.

Luton Hoo: A new area was checked in this large site. Not many bats were heard but soprano pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus and an unknown speceies were heard. Bob has made a recording of the unknown and hopefully will be able to ID the species from it. No bats were caught in the nets.

Martin

Bedfordshire's only Serotine Roost

Bedfordshire has only one known serotine Eptesicus serotinus roost, last year Phd student Caro Moussey came to the roost and ringed six bats as part of her Phd study. She returned in June but all the bats managed to escape the nets. On the 9th July she returned with a modified net and managed to catch six of the 11 bats in residence. Three of these had been ringed before and three hadn't. She has ringed the three (under licence) and taken samples for anaylsis.

Caro weighed and measured each bat, took a clip of fur for DNA anaylsis and took two biopsies from the wing (the bats are not harmed in anyway by doing this). The group noticed that on release from the hand the bats vibrated, with Caro saying this is typical serotine behaviour.

Caro's Phd is investigating the extent to which there is migration between serotine colonies in the UK and if there is migration from mainland Europe. She is also investigating genetic relationships between members of neighbouring colonies.

The Phd finishes in 2012 and the group are looking forward to the results.

The bat group hope to return to the roost annually to check how many of the bats come back each year.

Kings Wood Bat Box Project

Hi,

A little while ago I mentioned that the group had a bat box project lined up for this summer.

Well I can now reveal that the project is set up with 50 woodcrete boxes being put up in the largest of Bedfordshire's woodlands.

These boxes will be left to weather in over the summer, probably being checked once this year.

The plan is no then check these the following summer roughly once a month.

For those without experience of seeing wild bats up close and for those training for their licence this will be a great opportunity to gain handling experience.

There is also a good chance of seeing species such as brandts Myotis brandtii or barbastelle Barbastellus barbastella

Once the first check is complete I'll bring an up date.

Martin

Kings Wood update

We tried a different area in Kings wood last night.

Three mist nets were put up, but only one common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrllus was netted.

Brown Long Eared Plecotus auritus and Brandts Myotis brandtii were also heard. No barbastelles Barbastella barbastellus were heard.

Other than this it was a quite night with temperatures dropping off after sunset.

Martin

Noctule roost

Last monday the group undertook one of the regular suverys in the west of the county.

A week before a bat walk was undertaken there and a large number of Noctules Nyctalus noctula about.

On the Monday myself Bob. Mark and the others had a look around the trees and noticed that there were bats in one of them.

We hand netted the bat shown in the picture (Taken by Angie Cornwell) this turned out to be a pregant female. 21 bats were counted out of the roost but some may of been misssed, but a noctule pre-maternity roost has been found.

Martin

John Adams Roost

For over twenty two years the Bat Group has been monitoring a Common pipistrelle roost, which is believed to be a pre-maternity roost. We have in the past hand netted most years and these have always been females. On the 17th we found there to be a male and not only that but his Buccal galnds were enlarged. We are hoping to hand nett later this week to find out more.

Photos Jude Hirstwood

Martin

Kings Wood Survey

Wednesday the 4th May saw the group head into the NNR of Kings Wood.

A mist nett was put up and the bat opposite was netted.

It would seem to be a Brandts bat Myotis brandtii, Bob managed to get a close up of the teeth (see below). There is clearly a protocone or cingulum cusp on premolar (p4) this is roughly the same size as of the smaller premolar (p3).

However every UK bat worker knows just how hard it is to ID brandts, whiskered and now of course alcathoe bats. If you think we have the ID wrong post a comment.

No barbastelles Barbastella barbastellus were heard, which is unusal as the wood is well known for them.

The next woodland survey will be on the 23rd May (to be confirmed) details will follow soon after.

Martin

Slaughters Wood Results

Well,


Eight members of the group turned up at the woodland last Friday. 14 bats in total were netted 8 of which were male common pipistrelles the other 6 escaped the net before they could be sexed.

A survey at Kings Wood will be taking place tonight and I will get the results up once I have them.

Martin