Open Day at Pwll Penarth

The Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust wants your views and opinions on the new management plan for Pwll Penarth Nature Reserve, Newtown. An open day on the reserve is being held on Tuesday 12th February. Click here to find out more.

MBG's first excursion

An enjoyable, if tiring, day with the Montgomeryshire Bat Group (MBG), carrying out a bat hibernation survey in an impressive slate mine above Llangynog. Quite a slog up the steep hill to the mine, but once inside a good time was had by all. We saw a Greater Horseshoe, about 20 Lesser Horseshoes, a Brown Long-eared and a few Myotis bats, including one which was definitely a Daubenton’s. On the way back down, we popped in to an older lead mine, where there were another 10 or so Lesser Horseshoes and a few Myotis. For photos of MBG’s first excursion, check out the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MontgomeryshireBatGroup

We still know so little about the bats in Montgomeryshire; this information will not only help inform national trends, but also help build a clearer picture about bats in the area. If you know where some bats are roosting, please email me.

House Mouse, Pontrobert

When our heating broke down just after Christmas, the last thing I expected was that mice were to blame. Sure, we'd had an investation of mice in the shed (where the boiler lives) for a few months, as evidenced by their numerous droppings, the smell of urine and some chewed items. I hadn't quite got round to trapping them out, but part of me also didn't mind, as long as they stayed in the shed and didn't do any damage. However, the problem with the boiler brought the issue to a head... the mice had out-stayed their welcome and had to go!

Last night, I put two (live) traps in the shed and two hours later, I had a mouse in each. Before I went to bed, the total had gone up to three.

I was pleased to catch some so quickly and then I was intrigued - the furries I had caught were House Mice! This may not strike you as odd, but the House Mouse (Mus domesticus) is an uncommon species in Montgomeryshire! The mouse typically found in our rural homes is the Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) or occasionally for those in the east of the vice county, the Yellow-necked Mouse (Apodemus flavicollis).

There are only eight records for House Mouse in Montgomeryshire (five since 2000), all of which are in the east; this new record is the furthest west ever recorded!

So how do I know this is a House Mouse? It has smaller eyes and smaller ears than the other two species, but unless you are used to seeing them or have them side by side this is unlikely to be helpful! I think the easiest way of recognising a House Mouse is to think 'tiny rat' - their tails have a scaly look and they appear to be a uniform colour (typically grey-brown) all over.

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).