Red Squirrel in Cheshire

A Red Squirrel has been discovered in Cheshire! Is this the first sign of a Red Squirrel comeback or am I getting ahead of myself?! Anyway, exciting news! Find out more here.

Second meeting of MBG

Last night, a group of 14 batty people gathered in the Ivy House Cafe in Montgomery to take the next step with the Montgomeryshire Bat Group. There was a lot to discuss, but the meeting was efficiently chaired by newly appointed Chairman, Simon Cope and we were plied with liberal amounts of tea/coffee and delicious cake.

Many important decisions were made, including the election of the following officers:
Secretary - Simon Mootz
Treasurer - Nicola Wheeler
Recording Officer - myself

as well as voting on our favourite logo, deciding on the cost of membership and setting some dates for batty activities. Gerry Longley provided a range of bat boxes to discuss their relative merits, as well as different examples of some of the equipment needed for underground bat surveying. Jess Richardson impressed us all with the website draft she had created and Beth Robinson circulated a possible education project she had been working on.

All in all, a very positive meeting heralding great things for the future of bats and bat work in Montgomeryshire. Viva Montgomeryshire Bat Group!

Mammal Society Species Hub

Want to know more about our mammals? Take a look at the Mammal Society's new 'Species Hub'.

Montgomeryshire Bat Group

So, exciting news! Montgomeryshire once again has a bat group! The inaugural meeting of the new group took place last night at Abermule Hotel, with eight keen batty people attending. We all agreed we wanted a group and there were lengthy discussions about what the group could do. Some offered to take on roles, but there are still some to 'play for', so if anyone is interested in helping out - you don't need to know anything about bats! - then please get in touch. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, 13th December, in Welshpool (venue to be confirmed).

Dormousing

Out with my friend, Nick Young, this morning checking dormouse boxes in one of his Forestry Commission sites. Nick is a licensed dormouse handler and is kindly helping me work towards my licence.

The Hazel Dormouse is a protected species meaning it is an offence not only to harm them, but also cause them disturbance. In order to check nest boxes on sites where dormice are known, you must have the relevant licence to prove that you know how to minimize disturbance whilst carrying out this vital surveying activity.

It was an enjoyable morning, despite the showers and spopping wet ground and we found 13 nests in the nest boxes (of which there are 50). Slightly disappointed not to see a dormouse, but hardly surprising at this time of year, when they are likely to be safely tucked away at ground level, hibernating.

Young Fox

On the way to Guilsfield to see Calender Girls (blooming marvellous!), decided to take evasive action against the flooding and try the back roads. Nearly went headlong into a young fox which seemed intent on something in the road verge! It then ran along the road for about 100 metres before having the sense to dive through the hedge. What a tail!

Otters in Newtown

Without doubt, Newtown must be the best place to see Otters in Montgomeryshire. I have received a number of sightings in the town over the last couple of years and they have even been tame enough to allow photos and videos to be taken of them.

The latest one of these is this lovely 3 minute video of two Otters hunting in the middle of Newtown in broad daylight. This was taken by Russ Edwards, who has filmed Otters in Newtown before. Great footage, Russ! Keep your eyes out for Water Voles too!

Dormice at Dolforwyn

A day of checking dormouse nest boxes today, with licensed handler, Nick Young. First we checked the one hundred boxes which were erected at Dolforwyn Woods in July. This is the first time these boxes have been checked and so we were delighted to find that two boxes contained unoccupied dormouse nests. This is a new record for the site; great news!

Nick and I then moved on to Coed Pendugwm where dormice were re-discovered last month after an absence of nine years! Two unoccupied nests were also found here.

It was a shame that we didn't get to see any actual dormice, but it is getting a little late in the year now, as they will be thinking about going in to hibernation. Checking the dormouse boxes will recommence in April (licence permitting) and I'm hopeful we may have even more success next year.

Unusual passenger

This little Bank Vole was found by staff and volunteers of the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, running through the garden and onto the platform at Llanfair Station. Typical of a naive youngster, it was quite tame and allowed itself to be put back in the garden. However, it seems that it was determined to catch a train to Welshpool, as it was last seen running towards the train!

(Many thanks to Kevin Heywood for the photo and report)

Fox at Roundton

Fox seen on the very top of Roundton Hill at about 06:30am (whilst doing the Breeding Bird Survey).

The not-so-clever squirrel

Whilst walking the dogs along Glyndwr's Way today, something caught my eye. I was surprised to see a very unconcerned squirrel on the ground, in a field next to the road, barely 5m away. The nearest tree would require the crossing of a fence and the road, past myself and the dogs; was this the reason he didn't run or was he just very sure of himself?!

After watching him for a couple of minutes, foraging amongst the roots in the grassland, I continued on my way, thinking not much more about it. However, on my return some 40 minutes later, I disturbed a Buzzard from that very grassland. What should he be carrying in his talons, but a squirrel! Not such a clever squirrel afterall!

Fallow Deer @ Middletown

Five hinds seen twice on Middletown Hill this afternoon.

Weasel @ Tregynon

2 seen running across the road this evening at 20:00.

'Black' Rabbit @ Brooks

1 seen this evening with several regular Rabbits.

Common(?) Shrew @ Tregynon

At least 2 (presumed) Common Shrews seen this afternoon scurrying around in a roadside hedge.

Hedgehog @ Tregynon

1 seen crossing the road at about 23:00 this evening.

Today's mammal signs

Well used, fresh Badger latrine found in Dolforwyn Woods today and lots of fresh Otter spraint adorning a riverside tree at Llandinam Gravels. Plenty of molehills at Llandinam too. You've gotta love the glamorous side of being a mammalogist!

Bank Vole @ LCyD

At least 2 seen from the right hand side of the hide at the M.W.T reserve this morning.

Roe Deer @ Ceri Forest

3 seen together at SO165861 early this morning.

Weasel @ Llanllwchaiarn

1 seen this afternoon by the sewage works.

100 new homes

An enjoyable day with seven super people and lovely weather! Today we erected 100 new dormouse nest boxes at Coed Pendugwm Nature Reserve. Fingers crossed that these fabulous Montgomeryshire residents appreciate their new homes when they awake from hibernation in April/May. Watch this space!...

Find something new in 2012

No, you are not imagining it! This is not a strange new species of mammal, but it is a perfect illustration of how important it is to report your sightings!

This is a Lunar Hornet Moth, spotted by my partner, Kevin and I in July. At first we did not know what it was, only that it didn't look quite like a hornet! When we looked it up later, we found out what it was and I entered it into my moth database, thinking not much more of it, as it was listed in my book as 'resident and common'.

At the start of this year, I sent my moth records to Peter Williams, the county moth recorder and he quickly responded asking for clarification regarding my sighting, as this species was considered extinct in the county! On examination of the photo, he confirmed that it was indeed a Lunar Hornet Moth, the first county record in at least 50 years!

What's the point of this story, you may ask? Well, the adults of this species are rarely seen, as they aren't attracted in any of the normal ways. Rather than being rare in the county, it's likely that they are simply under-recorded.

So, the moral of this story is to keep your eyes peeled and more importantly report your sightings, as you never know when you might find something new or unusual. Remember the three essential items for a record: DATE, SPECIES & LOCATION; the most useful format for the latter is British National Grid reference and there has never been an easier time to get a grid reference, as there are plenty of websites which can provide one for you - try this one: Grab a Grid Reference.

Hare @ Llyn Hir

3 seen this evening. A Badger was also seen at Rhiwhiriath (not sure on the spelling on that one sorry!!).

Fox @ Llyn Hir

2 dog Foxes heard calling this evening, at least 1 Hare seen too.

Hare @ Manafon

1 ran across the road this eveing (1st one I've seen around here I think?).