BCT have issued updated Covid-19 advice which means waterways surveys can be undertaken this year, with some limitations. The summary for Somerset is on our website, with the full updated advice on the BCT website.
This survey monitors the activity of Daubenton’s bats along a waterway.
- More details on the BCT website.
- Any questions? Contact our NBMP Champion – Pete Gulliver
The survey method is straightforward and is ideal to try if you are relatively new to bat detecting. You will need a heterodyne (tuneable) bat detector and a torch (contact the Bat group if you need to borrow a detector for a survey).
The waterways survey is over 2 nights, the first survey should be first two weeks of August and the second survey during the third and forth weeks. The survey begins 40 minutes after sunset and usually takes about one hour.
Waterway Survey sites up for grabs!
You can either select one of the existing sites up for grabs, or email the BCT and ask for a selection of randomly allocated squares near to you.
- ID – Site Name and location – Waterway – Grid Ref
- 89 – Weare, south of Axbridge – River Axe – ST420530
- 360 – Oxmoor, between Cheddar and Wedmoor – River Axe – ST441507
- 387 – Farleigh Hungerford – River Frome – ST808569
- 407 – Compton Bishop, west of Axbridge – Cheddar Yeo – ST408546
- 592 – Middlemoor Bridge, south of Langport – River Isle – ST406228
- 642 – Blatch Bridge – Somerset Frome – ST775456
- 646 – Taunton Tone – River Tone – ST210250
- 705 – Wellington – Tributary Of River Tone – ST127206
If you would like to survey one of these sites, please email nbmp@bats.org.uk and let them know the ID number of the site you are interested in taking on.
NBMP Waterways Survey Results
Please note the BCT report results for the ceremonial county of Somerset, this includes parts of North Somerset and Bath & NE Somerset, i.e Avon Bat Groups area.
2019 National Results
2019 Somerset results
- 5 Waterways Surveys recorded Daubenton’s (or unsure) bats (+3 on previous year)
- Waterways Survey – Interim Somerset results map