Hi all,

Thought you might like to know the results from the roost surveys we've been doing over the last month. In all cases the weather was good with clear to patchy skies, temperature ranging from 8c to 15c , calm and no rain , what a change that made and very few midges except on a couple of occasion when they were absolutely diabolical. So what did we have, well:-

Cwm Rheidol pips colony 1st count, 821 bats in all - 819 from the west end and 2 from the side. At the 2nd count there were 435 bats - 419 from the west end and 16 from the side. The difference could be explained in that that weather had been good so the females who should now have babies didn’t bother to emerge because they had feed well on previous evenings; they preferred to play mum.

Two more counts at Cwm Rheidol are planned for the 6th and 14th July – let me know if you can make it please. aes@aber.ac.uk

The long eared roost at Comins Coch produced 20, 1st count and 22, 2nd count, about a third down on usual numbers but we didn’t have the added help of the infra-red camera this year so we might have missed a few. We have been asked to do another count there in August by the house owners just to check all is well so keep your eye out. This might be 13thAug but yet to be confirmed.

Unfortunately the Natterer’s count was very disappointing; no bats emerged on either count. The roost had been about maximum size for this species (92 last year) and it is known that they tend to split up when the roost gets too crowded. However it would be expected that some individuals would have remained, we’ll just have to keep watching.

Hope this is helpful

Nanteos tonight...

Hi All

Just a quick note to say everyone is welcome to come along for the survey tonight. Sunset is about 9.40pm, so I suggest arriving at Nanteos about 9pm so I can walk you round the site and explain what is going on. We have the main mansion, stales and some trees to look at. Please park at the front of the mansion. I will be on site from at least 8pm.

For anyone feeling keen, I am intending to return for dawn (back on site at 4am)!

I look forward to seeing you later.

Rich

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Nanteos bat survey next week

Hi all. 

Richard has been in touch to ask for some volunteers for a bat survey he'll be doing at Nanteos Mansion, near Aberystwyth, next Thursday (25th June). It is likely to involve a survey of the mansion building itself, and the stable block to the rear, as well as a dusk emergence/activity survey of the site. If you're interested, please either contact Richard directly on 01970 822188, or you can send me an email if you prefer (there is a link on the right of this page). He'll arrange meeting times, what to bring etc, nearer the time. 

Last colony count for June is on Monday (22nd) at Comins Coch. Please let Net or me know if you want to come along. As before, this is a small site so we may have to restrict the numbers of volunteers for this one, so please don't turn up if we're not expecting you! Thanks.

Thursday's colony count

Hello again. A quick update on this Thursday's count at Cwm Rheidol - up to last thing this afternoon, there was only Chris, Rob and myself signed up to do the count. Since we are all coming from the Bow Street area, we won't be passing through Aberystwyth, therefore we won't be stopping to pick up anyone from Somerfield - please don't turn up expecting a lift! However, if you are able to make your own way to Cwm Rheidol Visitor's Centre, please do. I'm aiming to be there shortly after 9pm.

Esther

More bat surveys this week...

Hi all. Thanks to everyone who has helped out with our colony counts so far. There are still plenty to come though, and we will need your help particularly for the Cwm Rheidol counts this week and in July.

The first Brown long-eared colony count is tonight: if you haven't already told Annette that you're coming along, please don't turn up at Somerfield car park tonight as we already have enough people to do the count (it's a very small site and too many people outside the roost may alter the bat's behaviour). There is another count tomorrow evening and I think we may have enough people for that too, but do check with Annette first if you want to come along (there is an email link on this page - don't leave it too late though!).

Looking further ahead (see the 'Programme of events' link also on this page), the second count at Cwm Rheidol is this Thursday night and we could do with some volunteers to help out with this and the two follow up counts in July. I'm appealling particularly to our more experienced bat group members to take the lead on this week's Cwm Rheidol count, and perhaps one of the July counts, to give Annette a night off! Again, please send Net an email as soon as you can if you are able to help out. If you need details of the colony count protocol, just let me know.

As always, please keep an eye on the blog for updates: if the weather turns bad and we need to cancel a survey or a colony count, we will update the blog before 4pm on the day. Please also put the rest of the surveys in your diary so that you can schedule in a bat count or two this season. Keep in touch and see you soon!

Survey work starts next Tuesday!!!!!

Hello everyone, it's what you've all been waiting for, a chance to get out there and do some bat survey work. As of next Tuesday (9th June) the group starts to undertake the Bat Monitoring Programme stuff for the Bat Consevation Trust. We need all the help we can get over the next two weeks so please come along. The dates and meeting venues etc are all available on the programme which is now linkable to from the quick links over on the right hand side (thanks Chris) so there is no excuse for not finding it. Please let me know if you are coming so I can sort out transport (aes@aber.ac.uk) by no later than 4pm please. On the day also check the blogspot to check all is Ok as there may be changes according to the weather. If there is any changes I'll post before 4pm. If you are coming along bring warm clothes, a torch, some anti midge stuff and maybe something nice to eat and drink! See you all there. Annette