David de Gernier: July 2008 Archives
On 14 July, members of bat group carried out a sunset survey of the Trottick ponds and Caird park ponds. ( See route on attached map ) Blue marks the route followed, and red marks the "hot-spots". Route starts at flag, and ends at Exit. Click on map for larger map.
It was a nice evening, a bit breezy, but dry with an air temperature of 14C.
There were plenty of insects flying and we had a good evening's "listening'.
The route started at Trottick and we were a bit early on first part of route, but soon started picking up echolocation calls on detectors once dusk approached.
The route will have to be checked again with time expansion detector to confirm species, but tentative guess would be that we encountered pipistrelle, ( both 45 & 55kHz "smacking" calls ) Also Daubenton at both ponds, again at 45 kHz but with the distinctive "Tik-ke" type call, and were also seen skimming the pond. Possible Brown Long ear with their very soft "tick" call, again between 45 -50khz.
There were many passes and feeding buzzes at both ponds and at times detectors were going like geiger counters.
Both sites are worthy of further examination, using a time expansion detector so as to analyse calls and identify to species level. Also, it is important that we try to identify where the roosts are. We spotted a few likely sites which will be followed up on.
Anyone interested in joining the Dundee Bat Group or helping out on our Dundee City Bat Project or if you just want to know more about bats and maybe come along on a bat walk to listen to bats yourself, please contact secretary@dundee-bats.com
It was a nice evening, a bit breezy, but dry with an air temperature of 14C.
There were plenty of insects flying and we had a good evening's "listening'.
The route started at Trottick and we were a bit early on first part of route, but soon started picking up echolocation calls on detectors once dusk approached.
The route will have to be checked again with time expansion detector to confirm species, but tentative guess would be that we encountered pipistrelle, ( both 45 & 55kHz "smacking" calls ) Also Daubenton at both ponds, again at 45 kHz but with the distinctive "Tik-ke" type call, and were also seen skimming the pond. Possible Brown Long ear with their very soft "tick" call, again between 45 -50khz.
There were many passes and feeding buzzes at both ponds and at times detectors were going like geiger counters.
Both sites are worthy of further examination, using a time expansion detector so as to analyse calls and identify to species level. Also, it is important that we try to identify where the roosts are. We spotted a few likely sites which will be followed up on.
Anyone interested in joining the Dundee Bat Group or helping out on our Dundee City Bat Project or if you just want to know more about bats and maybe come along on a bat walk to listen to bats yourself, please contact secretary@dundee-bats.com
I have been asked to put a complete online version of the Bat Workers
Manual on the site. There is also a link to this in the Bat links section,
but if you want to access a copy where I have joined all the chapters
into just one document, please follow this link.
While it is good to be able to access this online, I would suggest that it is worth while buying the hard copy, it is a rich source of information and crucial if you intend becoming a licensed roost visitor.
Note, if you are on a dial-up connection, this is a large file (5.3 Mb)
Bat Worker Manual Complete-1.pdf
Here is an extract from the above, which contains the training syllabus for Bat Workers.
Bat Worker Training Sylabus.pdf
While it is good to be able to access this online, I would suggest that it is worth while buying the hard copy, it is a rich source of information and crucial if you intend becoming a licensed roost visitor.
Note, if you are on a dial-up connection, this is a large file (5.3 Mb)
Bat Worker Manual Complete-1.pdf
Here is an extract from the above, which contains the training syllabus for Bat Workers.
Bat Worker Training Sylabus.pdf
Some people have told me that their GP's are trying to charge them for vaccines. These are free if you are bat workers. If anyone is being asked to pay anything other than the prescription charge by their GP's, let me know the GP details and I will contact them to point them in the correct direction.
You can get all the information you need on EBLV and vaccinations.
DEFRA :Bat Rabies
You can get all the information you need on EBLV and vaccinations.
DEFRA :Bat Rabies
For anyone who is interested in coming along, there are to be two events over the next couple of weeks.
Sunday 13 July: A dawn survey to monitor bats returning to roost.
Venue: Camperdown Park. Dundee. Meet at the large mansion house in centre of park. This is for early risers, as we need to be in situ by 0330 hrs.
Monday 14 July. Dusk survey of bats.
Venue: Trottick Ponds. Claverhouse. Dundee.
Meet at venue at 2130 hrs.
All are welcome. Please bring along bat detectors if you have them. Also warm clothing and torches.
For more information please contact secretary@dundee-bats.com
Sunday 13 July: A dawn survey to monitor bats returning to roost.
Venue: Camperdown Park. Dundee. Meet at the large mansion house in centre of park. This is for early risers, as we need to be in situ by 0330 hrs.
Monday 14 July. Dusk survey of bats.
Venue: Trottick Ponds. Claverhouse. Dundee.
Meet at venue at 2130 hrs.
All are welcome. Please bring along bat detectors if you have them. Also warm clothing and torches.
For more information please contact secretary@dundee-bats.com
