Hi all Bat Group members,
The bats may be moving toward hibernation, but there are still bat activities going on!
1/ Bat Box checks – 19th Oct
Paul reports “A great start to the day at Great Breach Wood, with 14 natterers in one box, a noctule and two sop pips in a wooden Kent box, a large mating group of 10 soprano pips.
Unfortunately I smacked a hole in my cars sump dumping oil everywhere. So while everyone else headed over to Ham Wall, I had to make do with waiting for a towtruck. Mixed morning!
Later at Ham Wall, was this lovely group of Daubentons bats which I’m disappointed to have missed.”
Photos on our website and Facebook:
2/ NBMP Winter Hibernation Counts – December to March
Licenced bat workers carry out surveys of hibernation sites from December to March each year. More details about the hibernation survey on BCTs website
Keep an eye on our Facebook group, for more surveyors requesting help. The current requests for help are:
- Burrington Combe, three spaces on each, first come first served, contact Pete Banfield.
- 8th December 2019
- 5th January 2020
- 9th February 2020
- Taunton Police Station Tunnels in January and February 2020 (TBC) contact Cath Shellswell if interested. Priority given to VBRV trainees.
- Several visits to Keepers Cottage Bat house, Harridge Woods, contact Adel Avery for details.
More details on the website as dates are firmed up: https://somersetbat.group/events/upcoming/
3/ Latest Bat Group Bulletin
Lots of info in this Bulletin, including a new position statement on blocking of potential roost features in trees.
The back archive of bulletins is on our website: https://somersetbat.group/about/bct-info/