Archive – 2022 events

Sat 5th February – ‘Bats’ talk by Daniel Hargreaves

Bat group member Daniel Hargreaves will be presenting his “Bats” talk to Wells Natural History & Archaeological Society meeting on Saturday 5th February at 2.30 pm in Wells & Mendip Museum, and on Zoom.

Daniel has spent many years taking part or organising bat projects both in this country and abroad. His photographs have appeared in the national press and on programmes like Spring Watch.

  • Cost £2.00 for non Members of WNHAS.
  • Refreshments will be served before the meeting after 2.00 pm.
  • If preferred, there will also be a Zoom link to the meeting.
  • Please contact Dave Cottle at wellsnhas@gmail.com to book a place, stating whether you wish to attend or would like the Zoom link.
  • Payment can be made direct by BACs to the bat group account once Dave has confirmed booking. Bank details: https://somersetbat.group/support/donate/

Radio Tracking training day – 16th April 2022

There will be a classroom-based training/introduction day with some radiotracking practice in the afternoon on April 16th. Venue the Bow Wharf in Langport, 10AM start until 4PM.

The training is open to any bat group members and RSPB staff and volunteers who wish to help with the radiotracking including the tracking itself. 

Bat Group AGM – 30TH APRIL 2022

We hope to meet in person in 2022, in Othery Village Hall, central Somerset

If you would prefer not to attend in person, we hope to stream the meeting via Zoom:

Agenda and officers pre-meeting reports will be posted here in the first week of April 2022.

If you have anything you would like to raise as AOB at the AGM, or would like to stand for the committee of SBG,  please email us before 1st April 2022. somersetbatgroup@somersetbatgroup

NATIONAL BAT MONITORING PROGRAMS

For many years, lots of group members have collected and contributed data to these national monitoring programs run by the BCT.  Each survey site is allocated to an experienced bat worker, and in many cases, they need lots of help.  Hence there any many opportunities to learn more while doing your bit to help bat conservation.

The surveys happen at the same time every year, so watch out for the emails and Facebook messages nearer the time for details of when, where and who the lead contact is:

LATE MAY TO EARLY JULY – NBMP ROOST SURVEYS

  • Sunset emergent counts at roosts across Somerset – more details

JULY – NBMP FIELD SURVEYS

  • Monitoring noctule, serotine, common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle.
  • Two 1km recording walks, starting 20mins after sunset. – more details

AUGUST – NBMP WATERWAYS SURVEYS

  • Monitoring activity of Daubenton’s bats along Somersets waterways.
  • Two waterside recording walks, starting 40mins after sunset – more details

MON 9TH MAY 2022 – FARRINGTON GURNEY GOLF CLUB BAT WALK

Private event for the FLORA group. Experienced members are welcome to help – email Dave for details, and to offer to assist.

BAT BOX CHECKS TAUNTON  – SAT 21st MAY 2019

We’ve got 20 boxes in two parks within Taunton that need checking. We’ll start at Comeytrowe Park monitoring the boxes in this area as well as make any repairs and rehang any boxes that have fallen down, before moving onto Longrun Meadow and look at the boxes there. All of the boxes were last checked in September 2019.

Due to covid, we’re limiting group sizes to 3 people on a first respond principle. Please contact Cath if you’d like to join in this monitoring.

Sat 28th MAy 2022 – Ham Wall BAt walk

Private event for the RSPB at their reserve on the levels. Experienced members are welcome to help – email Dave for details, and to offer to assist.

Sat 23rd July 2022 – Wells BIo Blitz BAt walk

Private event for the Sustainable Wells group. Experienced members are welcome to help – email Dave for details, and to offer to assist.

Radio Tracking Bechstein’s BAt – May & July/ August 2022

Joint project with Dorset Bat group in mid-Somerset as part of the Bechstein’s “finding its limit” project.  Our target wood will be Swell Wood RSPB reserve near Fivehead off the A378.

There would be two tracking periods each lasting about a week due to tag battery life. Currently, we’re thinking of 2nd to 8th May for pre-breeding and then 24th July to 1st August for post-breeding.

  • Lots of volunteers are required, willing to stay up for one or two nights during the weeks tracking.
  • As it is “all night”, volunteers are expected not to go to work the following day.
  • Volunteers will need to be fully paid up SBG or DBG members to be covered by Third Party Insurance

The trapping nights will be popular so we will have to heavily restrict numbers for those. There may be very limited opportunity to look at other species of bats due to current Covid-19 guidelines on contact with bats. At present we will just release any non-target bat species immediately. We’re hoping that things may relax a little by the summer in this regard but can’t promise anything.

Sat 13th Aug 2022 – Big Bat Count – CAstle Cary

A private big bat count for a group in Castle Cary.

Help from bat group members would be very welcome, 8PM at the George Hotel in the middle of Castle Cary for 8:45 count start. Contact Andy for details.

Tue 23th August 2022 – Wells SWT

Walk around the Bishops Palace Moat in Wells with local bat expert Dave Cottle and members of the Somerset Bat Group 8:00pm – 10:00pm

Experienced members are welcome to help – email Dave for details, and to offer to assist.

Weds 24th August 2022 – Wells SWT

Back for a second walk by popular demand, around the Bishops Palace Moat in Wells with local bat expert Dave Cottle and members of the Somerset Bat Group 8:00pm – 10:00pm

Experienced members are welcome to help – email Dave for details, and to offer to assist.

Fri 26th Aug 2022 – Big Bat Count Taunton

This public launch event is planned for central Taunton as part of the Great Somerset Wildlife Count.

Lots of help from group members would be very welcome.  Contact Andy for details.

TuEs 30th Aug 2022 – Big Bat Count – Kingsdon

A private big bat count for Kingsdon Wildlife Awareness Group.

Help from bat group members would be very welcome, 7:15PM for 8PM count start. Contact Andy for details.

SAT 10TH SEPT – Shepton Mallet BAT WALK

Public event for Shepton Walks, Shepton Mallet’s walking festival. Experienced members are welcome to help – email Adel to assist.

  • 7:15PM at Collet Park Coffee bar.

Weds 14th SEPT – Big Bat Count – Greyfield Woods

A joint Big Bat Count with Avon Bat Group, in Greyfield Woods, near High Littleton, for the High Littleton and Hallatrow Environmental Group.

Help from bat group members would be very welcome, 6:45PM for 7:30PM count start. Contact Andy, or Jane at Avon BG for details.

SAT 17TH SEPT – FROME BAT WALK & BAT BOX MAKING

Public event for Frome FROGS group during Big Green Week. A bat box making workshop will be taking place at the Roundhouse before the walk. Experienced members are welcome to help – email Adel to assist.

  • 7PM for 7:15PM start at Frome Market Yard.

Tues 20th Sept – Big Bat Count – Wiveliscombe

A private big bat count for the community wildlife project in Wiveliscombe.

Help from bat group members would be very welcome, 6:30PM for 7:15PM count start. Contact Andy for details.

Sat 24th Sept – Bax box checks on the levels

Checking the Shapwick and Catcott boxes on the same day. The event is now full, email us if you would like to be added to the waiting list – somersetbatgroup@gmail.com

Meet at the Avalon Marshes Centre car park at 10.30.

Thur 29th Sept – Bishops Palace, Wells

Walk around the Bishops Palace in Wells led by Dave Cottle. Sunset is 7:10PM

Experienced members are welcome to help – email Dave for details, and to offer to assist.

Sat 1st Oct – Taunton bat box checks

We’ve got 20 boxes in two parks within Taunton that need checking. We’ll start at Comeytrowe Park monitoring the boxes in this area before moving onto Longrun Meadow.

Group size will be limited on a first respond principle. Please contact Cath if you’d like to join in this monitoring.

Sat 15th Oct – Ham Wall and Gt. Breach Wood Bat Box Checks

It is getting a bit late in the year, but weather dependent we may find some bats. The boxes have not been checked for a while, Great Breach Wood was last done in 2019. So we will be checking the condition of the boxes and cleaning them out.