Bat Group Blog
The Bat Group Blog is a new feature for 2008. It provides a brief overview of some of the things going on around the UK. If your group has some news you'd like to share, perhaps a big event that's coming up or an unusual find, please contact the Bat Group's Officer.
Or if you would like more information on the bat groups, visit the Your Bat Group section.
Lothians Bat Group
First nocule bat box record in Scotland?!
In 2007, during the autumn bat box checks we recorded our first 'non pipistrelle' species when 5 natterers bats were found in a scheme, ongoing since 1996. This year 5 natterers bats were found again at the same scheme on a SWT reserve in West Lothian, in a different box about 50m away from where the 5 were found in 2007. At least one other box the scheme contained evidence of use by this species. This repeat finding however was surpassed in terms of excitement for the survey teams when at 2 other schemes, ongoing since 1990 and '94 respectively, and approximately 10km apart, a single female noctule bat was found. We think these are the first records for this species found in a bat box in Scotland. Coincident with these records are several new bat detector records for this species in a river valley approximately equidistant between the 2 bat box schemes.
Posted 10th November
East Lancs Bat Group
Rare bat found during Hibernation surveys
The East Lancashire Bat Group have begun surveys of potential bat hibernation sites and have already discovered one rare bat. A Lesser Horseshoe Bat, a cave dwelling bat thought to be found only in Wales and South west England, has been discovered during a preliminary survey of potential hibernation sites. Historic distribution of this bat included Lancashire and Yorkshire with the last known records dating back to the 1890's. We are now awaiting colder weather to confirm that this individual is from a residual population that has managed to remain undetected for over 100 years.
Posted: 8th December 2008
South Lancashire Bat Group
River Mersey Bats on the Beeb
A member of the South Lancs Bat Group, Stuart Spray, was recently asked to carry out some filming with Griff Rhys Jones. This was for his new series on Rivers, which is due to start next spring. The producers were hoping to film some trapping by the River Mersey, so a licence was duly applied for and the wheels set in motion. This worked out well for some of our members who received harp trap training from Stuart during filming. Unfortunately, they didn't catch any bats that night, but pipistrelles and Daubenton's were recorded feeding.
Posted: 31st October 2008
Dorset Bat Group
Nathusius' at Radipole Lake Reserve 
We recently recorded a Nathusis’ pipistrelle at the RSPB’s Radipole Lake Reserve in Weymouth. This is a really exciting find as it’s a new record for the reserve and only the third sighting in Dorset.
The bat's using ditches that were restored by the RSPB last winter: the first such work to be undertaken on the reserve for more than 20 years and the first step in a larger plan to improve the reserve for wildlife.
As well as the Nathusius' (a regular visitor it seems) the survey has shown the ditches are very popular with at least 5 or 6 other bat species. These are not only using the open water to feed, catching thousands of night flying insects, but there is also a lot of social activity, suggesting the ditches are playing a role in bat courtship, a kind of 'watery social club'!
We really pleased with findings so far and it will be really interesting to see what else our volunteers find as the survey progresses.
Posted: 9th October 2008
Bedfordshire Bat Group
Serotine success
We had a record of a single hibernating serotine in 2001. We have seen a few flying in a few locations but had never found a summer roost. More in hope than expectation we recently tried mist netting.
To our amazement not one but three serotines flew into the net within the first ten minutes. One immediately freed itself, the second feigned co-operation and then wriggled its way to freedom, but the. third was more co-operative and we radio tagged it. Having put a tag on a Hertfordshire serotine (see photo) earlier in the season, only to have the bat shed it within 24 hours,we were all too aware at how good serotines are at grooming off their tags. We were extra careful in attaching it. Much good it did us. Our female also shed the tag within 24 hours.
We located the tag and were nearly side tracked by the fact she had dropped it on a neighbouring roof. On Sunday 10th August we were rewarded by the sight of twelve serotines leaving their roost. Still not sure who was most excited, us or the householders.
Posted: 20th August 2008
Lee Valley Bats
Night-Scented Garden for Bats
We have received funds to create a Night-Scented Garden for bats. ‘The Paddock’, a Haringey ‘Community Nature Garden’ at Ferry Lane, London N17 will be the site for the new garden. Flowers will include: Honeysuckle, Sweet William, Stocks, Night-scented Jasmine and many more. Another feature will be a dry-stone wall, to increase biodiversity. The idea behind the garden is to entice more bats to the immediate area, while providing an attractive and fragrant spot for the whole community to enjoy and learn from.
Are you interested in volunteering? For example: planting or helping to build the dry-stone wall? If so, please register your interest at: www.leevalleybats.org.uk/volunteering.htm
Posted: 19th August 2008
West Yorkshire Bat Group
River Colne Project
As reported in the Spring 08 issue of Bat News, our group took part in the River Colne Project (a publicly funded, community-based, environmental enhancement project) in 2007. New bat volunteers were attracted through a series of bat walks, talks and training sessions; then in September, six 1.5km transects were surveyed simultaneously across the valley.
Building on the success of this first phase, the project has now been awarded £23,000 by SITA to undertake environmental improvements across the valley. Informed by results from the 2007 survey, improvements will include: tree and hedgerow planting to enhance bat corridors; pond creation, to increase insect life; and creation of artificial roosting sites. This is excellent news for local bats, for Colne Valley biodiversity more widely, and for the many volunteers who took part in the project. For more information about the project, contact the group at enquiries@westyorkshirebats.org.uk or go to the Colne Project website http://www.rivercolneproject.org.uk/.
Posted 16th July 2008
Dumphries and Galloway Bat Group
Better Batty Boudoirs
Our group was recently awarded an SNH Biodiversity Award of £250.00 for 'Better Batty Boudoirs' - i.e. replacing some of our timber bat boxes with woodcrete boxes in Castramont wood, Gatehouse of Fleet. We particularly want to thank Anne Youngman (BCT's Scottish Bat Officer) for her advice and input - thank you Anne!
Posted 15th July 2008
Merseyside and West Lancs Bat Group
Award for Best Environmental Project
On 3rd June, Charlie Liggit and Nick Halding attended the Spirit of Merseyside Awards Event at the new Liverpool Arena. There was an address by Cherie Booth Q.C and many local big wigs were there. The Bat Group received an award for the best environmental project.
We were nominated by the Green Machine, who administer the distribution of funds, publicity etc and who gave us a grant of £500 towards the cost of the training. The funds come from local firms, which in our particular award category, consisted of BHP Billiton and ENI UK. The project was the training that Jules Agate (BCT's Monitioring Projects Manager) ran on 31st May on the use of Bat Sound, which 30 trainees attended. For more details of the Spirit of Merseyside Awards Event, visit http://www.cfmerseyside.org.uk/events01.html
Posted 4th June 2008
Bedfordshire Bat Group
Missing Tetrad Surveys for our 20th Birthday
The Bedfordshire Bat Group is celebrating its 20th birthday in 2008. Even after tweny years of collecting bat records there are still parts of the county for which we have no records. So, this year we are running Missing Tetrad Surveys to check if this because there are no bats or if we just haven't looked in the right place yet. This is in addition to a very busy programme of activities. Check our website http://www.bedsbatgroup.org.uk/ for more information.
Posted 16th May 2008
Cumberland Bat Group
Bat Trip to Slovakia
In 2006, several members of our group went out to Slovakia on a bat trip organised by Slovakian researchers. The trip gave us a unique opportunity to see rare bats and watch the researchers at work and also helped to raise money for the Slovakia Bat Group.
For more information about future trips, please contact Sally Philips at sally@keswick.org.uk. We can't recommend it enough.
Posted: 14th April 2008
Gwent Bat Group
We're back!
About two years ago the Gwent Bat Group had a major set-back when their Chairman and founder became seriously ill, and could no longer take any part in the leadership/management of the group. Following this, the group became almost non-existent, and many members unfortunately dropped out. However, at the end of 2007, Steve Burchell stepped forward as the new Chair and, with a few other dedicated bat enthusiasts, is keen to re-establish the group. We've already started planning events for 2008. Now all we need are enthusiastic people with an interest in bats who would like to learn more, and at the same time help to get the group back on it's feet.
To find out more, please email Ellen Kershaw at ellswan@ntlworld.com.
Posted: 15th April 2008
North Lancashire Bat Group
Successful lobbying for new guidance
A local tree surgeon recently cut through a hollow cherry tree branch with his chainsaw, only to find three noctule bats above and five below the cut. Thankfully, all were miraculously uninjured, and the homeowner and tree surgeon were keen to re-instate the roost, which was done successfully.
In this case, the tree needed planning permission for felling, so we contacted Lancaster City Council and asked if they would consider putting guidance about bats in with the determination notice. We got a positive response and, although it is not very comprehensive (they wanted to keep it short) this is the text that will be included from now on to applicants wanting to fell trees in conservation areas or with TPOs. It is only a small proportion of trees to be felled, we know, but at least it might raise 
awareness.
"This notice does not give authority to destroy or damage a bat roost or disturb a bat. Bat species are protected under Section 39 of the 1994 Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (as amended), the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act (as amended) and the 2000 Countryside and Rights of Way Act. It is illegal to damage or destroy any bat roost, whether occupied or not, or disturb or harm a bat. If you are aware that bats roost in the tree(s) for which work is planned, you should take further advice from Natural England (via the Bat Conservation Trust on 0845 1300 228) or an ecological consultant before you start. If bats are discovered during the work, you must stop immediately and contact Natural England for advice before continuing."
Posted 16th April 2008
Suffolk Bat Group
25th Year!
It's our 25th Anniversary this year! To celebrate, we're planning to convert a pill box on one of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust's (SWT) wetland reserves into a new hibernation site. We'll also have a display in the SWT tent at the Suffolk Show, where we'll be giving advice, displaying the group's history and generally hoping to get more people interested in bats. For more information, keep an eye on our website www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk
Posted: 16th April 2008