4
BAT NEWS
The bat season has made an early start in 1987 with
five species being reported by mid-April. During
the extremely cold weather of January there were
several records of Pipistrelles and Brown Long-Eared
bats turning up in houses - all of which were suc-
cessfully released. It is at this time that bats
hibernating in trees or other cold sites will move
out when the temperature drops, in search of more
suitable conditions. This is why it was important,
two years ago, to stop potholing during the winter
at the Grays deneholes. That this was proved
successful was confirmed this year with 28 bats (14
Natterers, 12 Daubenton's and 2 Brown Long-Eared)
being found in February. The deneholes are now
the second best site in south-east England after
Westerham caves. At this time a Natterers was
found in an ice-house in central Essex and 3 more
in a cellar near Brentwood. Then, in mid-April, a
visit to a cottage due for demolition near Thaxted
turned up a Leisler's bat - the seventh recent record
of this rare bat. Let's hope the rest of the year
is as good.
JOHN DOBSON
Having recently been elected President of the Field
Club, I should like to introduce myself to those
members that I don't know. In the past, my
natural history interests have been limited to
birds and bats, but I hope to broaden these this
year at some of the field meetings that have been
organised. I would ask members to support these
and to offer alternative suggestions if they feel
that their interests are not fully catered for. The
Club's programme should reflect its members'
interests - please let these be known.
JOHN DOBSON