The weather has been challenging for bats this September, with record rainfall, 2.5 times average over some parts of Somerset, it will be interesting to see what effect this has on bats mating, and feeding up for the winter.
The weather did affect some bat group events, but most were still able to go ahead, and you can read all about them below. Included is:
- An update on the radio tracking of our grey long-eared project.
- It’s September, so members were out checking our bat boxes.
- Reports from the final Big Bat Counts of the season.
- The latest BCT Bat Group Bulletin includes news of a consultation on the Bat Tree Habitat Key.
- There is still time for our 2023 members to renew their membership.
Grey long-eared Radio Tracking
Our chair Paul reports:
“This years Grey long-eared radio tracking kicked off with 3 male GLE caught all on the same night, where I had previously recorded a male GLE roosting in the tower of church near Highbridge.
53 bats of 7 species were caught that night in total, so a good night for many who came along to get handling and ID experience even without the target species.
Two of the GLE were tagged which were then located the following day, one in the church and one in a barn 300m away. The next two days they disappeared completely, but returned after to the original roosts and some useful foraging area usage was recorded, along with further night roosts and a curious end to the tracking when the church roosting bat switched to the nearby council estate.
They made good use of small orchards after initially leaving their individual roosts, then moved more widely into distinct areas. We only wish we’d tagged the third bat now, but at the time following 3 males didn’t seem to justify the expense of the tags.
All 3 bats were caught trying to get into the entrance porch of the church, so something is going on that we don’t really understand – somewhere nearby there must be some females.
Next year we may be able to better target sites based on these three captures.”
Bat Box checks update
Gt.Breach and Ham Wall Bat box Checks – Sat 14th Sept
Josh was leading and reports:
“Lovely day out in the sunshine at Great Breach Wood and Ham Wall with lots of new faces. Starting at Great Breach we recorded two mating roosts of Soprano Pipistrelle as well as an individual male tucked away on his own.
We moved down for lunch at Ham Wall and then checked around 30 boxes, finding a total of six Soprano Pipistrelle mating roosts and regular individual male Soprano Pipistrelle throughout the site. Massive thanks to all of the volunteers who helped out – if anyone’s interested in helping out in the future then do get in touch”
Harridge Bat Box Checks – Sun 15th Sept
Adel was leading a small group around the boxes in Harridge on an overcast Sunday. In the 38 boxes there were:
- 15 Natterers in the Colony box
- 5 Soprano Pips in a box on a Spruce
- 1 bat that flew from the hibernation box
- A Hornet colony filling one box.
In Keepers Cottage there was only one Lesser Horseshoe on the top loft. Thanks to all who helped, and sent photos!
East Mendips Bat box Checks – Sat 21st Sept
On a lovely morning Josh led a small team of volunteers at King’s Castle Woods, Wells and reports.
“Although we only had a handful of boxes to check we recorded one Soprano Pipistrelle mating roost in a box that was only installed recently, and many examples of ‘well-used’ boxes! Thanks to all for helping out!”
Sat 28th Sept – Levels Bat box Checks
Dani was leading around the levels reserves and said:
“Thank you to all who came out to the Somerset Levels this Saturday to check the boxes at Catcott, Shapwick Heath and Canada Farm. We have 3 boxes of Sop pips, 21 in total. It was a lovely sunny day, after having to postpone the weekend before!”
Big Bat Count reports
Unfortunately the weather meant two bat counts in Stoke St Gregory and Taunton had to be cancelled, however Kingsdon and Ham Hill villages went ahead, reports below.
All the recordings from the 2024 counts to date have now been analysed and verifiable records uploaded to iNaturalist. See all the 2024 results on our website: https://somersetbat.group/bats/count/big2024/
The results FAQ aims to answer many common questions about the processed results, including an explanation of why the numbers of “on the night” observations, and verified records, differ.
Kingsdon Big Bat Count – Sat 31st Aug
This Big Bat Count was successfully run by the community in Kingsdon, and our thanks to Ian for coming to pick up the kit.
A total of 7 teams set off, with one detector left at base.
The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have now been analysed. There are 41 verifiable results uploaded to iNaturalist across 10 species; Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle Common Pipistrelle, Serotine, Noctule, Western Barbastelle and up to 5 Myotis , which may well end up verified to Myotis species level only, as these calls are very difficult to tell apart: Whiskered, Bechstein’s, Brandt’s, Natterer’s and Daubenton’s.
- 10 Verifiable species from Kingsdon Big Bat Count 31st Aug 2024
- Bat map of the 41 verifiable bat recordings from Kingsdon Big Bat Count 31/8/24
- Validated “Research Grade” bat records
Ham Hill Villages Big Bat Count – Fri 13th Sept
Thank you to Helen Hawke for superb organising of this Big Bat Count among the villages around Ham Hill, west of Yeovil.
Around 40 people met to split up into 11 village teams. A total of 118 bat observations were made across 12 species, with Common Pipistrelle being the most commonly observed.
The initial unverified results from the night are in iNaturalist:
The bat recordings made on the night, and stored on the tablets, have been analysed, and there are now an extra 60 verifiable bat recordings uploaded to iNaturalist across 6 species: Common Pipistrelle, Serotine, Soprano (Pygmy) Pipistrelle, Noctule, Natterer’s Bat, and a Brown Long-eared Bat
- 6 Verifiable species from Big Bat Count 13th Sept 2024
- Bat map of the 60 verifiable bat recordings from Big Bat Count 13/9/24
- Validated “Research Grade” bat records
Bat Group Bulletin
This months BCT Bat Group Bulletin includes news of a consultation on the Bat Tree Habitat Key.
And in case you missed it, Augusts BCT Bat Group Bulletin included news of new EBLV positive bats in Somerset bats.
You can see all past bulletins on our website:
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME
For our 2023 members, their membership of the bat group lapsed at the end of April. Hence there are still 37 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/