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!
Friday, 14 December 2012
Monday, 3 December 2012
Mammal Society Species Hub
Want to know more about our mammals? Take a look at the Mammal Society's new 'Species Hub'.
Friday, 30 November 2012
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).
Friday, 23 November 2012
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.
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.
Thursday, 22 November 2012
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!
Thursday, 15 November 2012
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!
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!
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
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.
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.
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