The Midlands Conference

Hi all,

I went to the midlands conference yesterday to run a bats and trees workshop. Having arrived on site at about 10.50am I sat in on the main talks until the workshop went ahead at 2pm.

Having never been to the site before I was a little concerned that there wouldn't be any good 'bat trees' but after walking around for an hour, there was plenty to choose from.

Hopefully the walk and talk wasn't to bad and everyone learnt something!!!

Martin

Yesterday, A small number of the BBG and a colleague were doing a badger training day, we were in Kings Wood (Houghton Conquest) and we happened apon an oak tree with a hole in it.

Polly had her endoscope on her so we had a look, where were a minimum of two brown long eared bats and a possible third in the cavity.

Martin

Dawn Swarming

This short clip taken by Angie Cornwell in the summer shows dawn swarming at the largest soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmeaus roost in Bedfordshire.

The roost consists at its peak in excess of 1500 bats, being a maternity roost. It has been monitored for several years now and numbers have been growing year on year. The main concern was that the space they use to roost would be to small for much more expansion, however several licenced members gained access into the roost over winter and it would seem that there is still plenty of space for growth yet.

The above clip is a snap shot of the dawn swarming process, which can last for up to and beyond an hour, this is were lots of bats fly around the entrances to their roosts (swarm) before entering the roost for the day. There are two types of swarming the dawn as above and autumn swarming which is quite different.

Autumn swarming is a prolonged process happening over several hours and late into the night, involving far fewer bats. It occurs at hibernation sites, and several thoeries have been suggested as to why bats do this.

One of these is that the mothers are showing that years young the hibernation sites, another is that its has something to do with mating ensuring that genetic diversity is maintained in a population. Most bat groups are now undertaking work at autumn swarming sites to learn more about this behaviour.

Martin

Third Hibernation Survey

On the weekend of the 11th February the group undertook their final hibernation check of the winter. As it turns out the totals for this February was a record count with 125 bats across all the sites. The two pictures above show two of the species which were found.

These were taken by myself (Martin O'Connor) the top one is a barbastelle Barbastellus barbastella one of 10 located in the largest of the hibernation sites, with the bottom one being a brown long eared bat Plecotus auritus.

 On the Sunday a rather cold looking BLEB was found in another site, see below:

You can see the frost on the bat above, does make you wonder if the bat has survived.

Hibernating Lesser

Myself and the better half went to Cheddar for the weekend, whilst wondering around the caves we came across this little fellow.

There were about 6 lesser horseshoes Rhinolophus hipposideros in the two caves we went into.There were almost certainly more bats in there but with the number of crevices and large chimneys in the roof of the cave we were lucky to see the ones we did.

Homemade Harp Trap

Hi all,

The bat group have decided to build there own harp trap this winter.

Aidan, Bob and I are just coming up with idea's at the moment but I will bring you more news as and when we have started the project.

I am hoping to document the process so can bring you the design and stages to completion.

Martin

Second Hibernation Survey

Over the weekend the group undertook the second hibernation survey across Bedfordshire. In total 146 bats of five speceis were found across the sites. The largest site had 101 bats found, including two pipistrelles Pipistrellus spp.

The photo above shows two different speceis in a bat brick in one of the purpose built hibernation sites across the county. Can you identifiy them?

There is one final survey in January, I will be leading on the Saturday and am hoping to see the six barbastelles Barbastella barbastellus that were found in the largest site. One barbastelle was found in a little site on the Sunday, which in the past has had them in.

I bring another update once these are complete.

Martin

The First Hibernation Survey

Well,

Last weekend members of the group headed out to the hibernation sites across the county. There was doubt that numbers would be very good, due to the fairly good weather that we have had so far this winter.

But over the weekend numbers were up on last year and in the largest site that is monitored, a new recod number of bats were found, 101 in total. Of these Barbastelle Barbastellus barbastellus numbers were still good, with six found in total. Not quite the 25 found last year, however still good for the weather that has been good so far.

The species found most was natterers Myotis nattereri with a daubentons a close second M. daubentonii, a smaller number of brown long eared  Plecotus Auritus were also found.

The next surveys are taking place in Jan, I am leading the Sunday checks and will bring the results shortly after.

Martin

That's a rap

Well,

The bat season is just about finished for the year. Three hibernation surveys are due to take place in December, Jan and Feb, I'll bring the results as and when they have taken place.

There will also be a final box check in the Luton area. If these have been damaged we will probably take them down.

Martin

Kings Wood Bat Box Project

Hi,

A little update on the box project.

A check was made last Sunday and 9 pipistrelles were found in one box and brown long eared in another.

There will also be a check of teh Luton boxes this month and I will bring an update when these are complete.

Martin