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BAT ROOST VISIT, MEETING ON 26TH JUNE 1992
This was a particularly successful meeting held near Maldon at a site that had been visited
before - a house supporting one of the largest Pipistrelle roots in the county. At this time
of year female bats are present forming a nursery colony. In 1992 babies were bom early
as a result of the favourable weather and 810 bats were counted emerging from their
roost. The peak count this year was of 921 bats on June 2nd, comparing well with 969 in
1991. It is common at this roost for numbers to decline during June.
After completing the count, the six Field Club members looked into an outbuilding and
saw two Brown Long-Eared bats flying amongst rafters. This species emerges later in the
day than the Pipistrelles, preferring almost complete darkness before starting to hunt. The
highlight of the evening occurred when a female Natterer's bat was found, with baby
attached, on the floor of the building. The bat was unable to fly but after cleaning off
cobwebs and dust it was placed on the wall to recover. A thorough search the next day
failed to reloctae it, so presumably it recovered and flew away. All in all, a good meeting
resulting in three species of bat being seen.
John Dobson
BAT WALK, MEETING ON THE 10TH JULY
July weather was colder and wetter than June and the meeting was held for five members
in Baxted Park. The weather was cold and damp and unsuitable for seeing bats. Several
Pipistrelles were found feeding over the lake in dark conditions and only poor views
could be obtained. At a site where five species (Pipistrelle, Noctule, Daubenton's,
Natterer's and Brown Long-Eared) have all been recorded, this was a disappointing result.
Better luck next time!
John Dobson
MAMMAL TRAPPING, MEETING ON THE 27TH SEPTEMBER
Nine members attended this meeting in the Essex Wildlife Trust Backwarden Reserve at
Danbury. As a continguency plan, 15 traps had been set earlier in the week and two Wood
Mice and a Bank Vole were held in captivity and shown in the car park. 36 traps had been
set the previous evening in deciduous woodland and along the western boundary of the
reserve and these produced eight Wood Mice and a Common Shrew.
A further 12 traps were set in a nearby lane along a wooded hedge bordering arable land.
Here several people saw Yellow-Necked Mice for the first time - an adult and juvenile,
being trapped along the hedge. A ninth Wood Mouse completed a successful meeting.
John Dobson