In this packed newsletter we have:
- A free training workshop for the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP), and survey sites up for grabs
- The latest update on the grey long-eared project, come get involved in the next trapping!
- Lots of other batty happenings for you to take part in.
- Can you help with… requests for help with Somerset events.
- The latest BCT Bat Group Bulletin which includes news of BCT’s new strategy.
- Welcome to our new lifetime members.
- It’s for our 2023 members to renew their membership.
National Bat Monitoring Programme free training and Survey sites
“Using Your Ears” Bat Detector Workshop
The Group is hosting an in-person workshop: NBMP Level 2 “Using Your Ears” Bat Detector Workshop at the Avalon Marshes, Somerset on 19th July 2024, 7.30pm to 11pm. The event is free to Somerset Bat Group members.
This introductory bat detector workshop involves an evening classroom session followed by a practical field session starting around dusk.
Bat sounds are broken down into four elements in order to train people’s sonic memory and aid species identification using a heterodyne bat detector in the field. The focus is on pipistrelles, noctule, serotine and Daubenton’s bat as these illustrate a range of different bat sounds.
The workshop will be led by Edward Wells.
NBMP Survey Sites up for grabs
Our NBNP champion Dani Smith says that across Somerset there are a range of survey sites, that have been done in the past, but for varied reasons are not done now. It would be fantastic for record continuity if some of our members could volunteer to take a site on.
Field Surveys
The 2024 unallocated Field Survey sites are shown on this map:
To find out what’s involved, and how to claim one of these unallocated NBMP Field Survey sites, please see this document.
More background on the Field Surveys on our website.
NBMP Waterways Surveys
The past Waterways Survey sites unallocated in 2024 are shown on this map:
To find out what’s involved, and how to claim one of these unallocated NBMP Waterway Survey sites, please see this document.
More background on the Waterways Surveys on our website.
Grey long-eared Project Update
Trapping Session 2 – 31st May/1st June
On the second weekend’s trail trapping, lots of bats were caught, but no GLE yet.
We didn’t get the permission we were hoping for and hence were on the backup plans at short notice. So a small team made it back to Montacute on Friday (31st). A good Friday nights trapping, 32 bats in total, across 8 species:
- 8 soprano pipistrelle
- 2 common pipistrelle
- 11 brown long-eared bat
- 2 whiskered bat
- 2 barbastelle
- 2 noctule
- 4 serotine
- 1 natterer’s
The two barbastelle were radio-tracked under a separate NE project licence for a national survey, and traced back to a tree on a nearby woodland.
The team also sat there listening to the radio tag of a male Bechstein’s that Daniel had tagged 11 days before, and hangs around in the grounds of Montacute.
On Saturday night a full team met at another National Trust property, Tintinhull gardens. They were joined by BCT trustee Steve Roe who was recording an episode of the BCT podcast Batchat about the GLE project. Listen out for this in the new series next year sometime.
A successful night again 39 bats in total, across 7 species:
- 10 soprano pipistrelle
- 7 common pipistrelle
- 6 brown long-eared bat
- 1 whiskered bat
- 6 noctule
- 4 serotine
- 5 natterer’s
The hunt for GLE continues …
Next trapping sessions
Plans are still forming for the next trapping sessions, and landowner permissions are being chased. The current thoughts, which may well change, are for two weekends on Exmoor National Trust properties.
- Trapping 3 – A Fri and Sat in late July TO BE CONFIRMED – possibly 19/20th? or 26/27th July?
- Radio tracking 3 – IF we catch any GLE, then possible for following 9 days.
- Trapping 4 – Fri 9th and Sat 10th August 2024.
- Radio tracking 4 – Possible from Sat 10th right though to Mon 19th Aug, IF we catch any GLE
For details of the latest plan and dates please see the Upcoming Events page on our website: https://somersetbat.group/events/upcoming/
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
As we are likely to catch mostly other bat species, this will be great experience at bat ID and handling, especially for those planning to apply for licences. It’s likely to be popular so preference will be given to local members who can do some trapping and radio tracking, and we will be in touch with those best placed to help.
If you would like to volunteer to help please email to let us know which if the dates above you can do: somersetbatgroup@gmail.com
More details about the GLE project on our website: https://somersetbat.group/bats/gle/
We still need EVERYONE’S HELP…
As mentioned in the previous newsletters:
- If you have any confirmed GLE records please let us know
- If you know of any likely private landowners of unimproved pasture land with 2 km of the coast we would be very grateful for their contact details
Email us the details: somersetbatgroup@gmail.com.
Can you help with…
The bat group receives far more requests for help than the committee can do. Hence please do let us know if you think you could help out with these recent requests: somersetbatgroup@gmail.com
- North Perrott & Haselbury Garden Club would like a talk on bats.
Our next bat group events
There are lots of things planned, so come along and get involved!
- July – NBMP field surveys
- (new) Fri 12th July – Charlton’s Big Bat Count
- (new) Fri 19th July – “Using your Ears” Training Workshop for National Bat Monitoring Programme
- (new) Late July (TBC) – GLE Trapping and possible Radio tracking 3
- August NBMP waterways surveys
- (new) Fri 9th Aug on – GLE Trapping and possible Radio tracking 4
- Sat 10th Aug – Castle Cary Big Bat Count
- Fri 16th Aug – Frome Big Bat Count 2
- Sat 17th Aug – Bridgwater Big Bat Count
- Tue 20th Aug – Wells bat walk
- W’end 30/31st Aug – Kingsdon Big Bat Count
- W’end 30/31st Aug – Lytes Cary Big Bat Count
For details on how to join these events please see the upcoming events page on our website: https://somersetbat.group/events/upcoming/
Bat Group Bulletin
Below is the latest BCT Bat Group Bulletin which includes news of BCT’s new strategy.
All past editions of the Bulletin can be found on this page of our website:
WELCOME TO OUR NEW LIFETIME MEMBERS
The group would like to warmly welcome the following members who took out lifetime membership in the last month:
- SBG0036 – David
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME
For our 2023 members, their membership of the bat group lapsed at the end of April. Hence there are now 41 people for who it is time to renew their membership.
Please pay your membership subs by BaCs or Paypal then complete our online membership form to update your information. Full details are on our website: https://somersetbat.group/join/