1000 David Attenboroughs – Week 11

This is run by the wildlife trusts and they have short guides on gardening, nature writing, nature activities with kids, wild bingo..nature photography, making elderflower cordial..

https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/57739/petition/1

Bat Surveying 2020 is now underway!

If you are out in the evenings please keep an eye out for bats!

..and record your sightings.

Bats can usually be seen from 20 minutes after sunset. There is a period of about half an hour when you can see them before it gets too dark.

Most of the bats in the Wild West End are one of the two pipistrelle species but there may be other species, particularly in Leazes Park.

The best time to see them is on warm evenings with little wind. They often follow hedge or tree lines or fly over grassy areas. You will see them darting about catching flying insects, which is what they feed on.

The sooner you see them after sunset, the closer their roosting (sleeping) place will be. Also, if you see them coming from a certain direction close to sunset, that may indicate their roost is in that direction, which is why we ask about the direction and time when you see the bats.

Finding bat roosts is an important part of the project so we can protect them.

Summer bat roosts are likely to be in buildings; bats will use buildings of all ages. Pipistrelle species bats are crevice roosting bats and so will be tucked up behind fascia boards, along wall tops, under lead flashing and under roof tiles/slates. Pipistrelles rarely use loft spaces.

Please record your sightings on the attached record sheet. The record sheet can also be found on the website https://greeningwingrove.org.uk/bat-surveying-2020/

or contact the project wildwestend@greeningwingrove.org.uk or phone/text 07410 944713 and I will drop some through your letterbox.

If you take a torch to help you write down your sightings and not trip over!..make sure to not shine it at the bats.

If you want to write down the temperature for when you were out, it can be found here (though not essential)

https://www.weatherhq.co.uk/weather-station/newcastle-3

Circle the weather conditions for each night you record bats on the record sheet.

Please return your record sheets to Ruth Hayward c/o The Time Exchange, 235 Stanton St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5LJ once the office has reopened after lockdown. Please return all record sheets by mid October.

Safety tips

Take a friend – but stay 2 metres apart.

Take a mobile phone and make sure it is charged.

Only walk where you feel safe.

Bat Transects

The Project also has three transects/routes being walked once a month with bats being recorded using our new Anabat bat recorders. These transects are in Arthurs Hill, Spital Tongues and Fenham (covering the park behind Morrisons and the St. James and St. Basils’ Church Garden).

I did the transect in Arthurs Hill on Monday evening 1^st June and found lots of bats in the part of Nuns Moor around the Play Centre.

Happy Batting!

Ruth

_{Feature pic of lioness and cubs “Cottars3” by Sam.Romilly, licensed under CC BY 2.0 CC}