Yesterday (1/4/09) I saw and captured what seems like a bat flying around and catching insects! Not unusual I hear you say! Well it was during midday and it was scorching! Can anyone tell me if infact it is unusual and what species it could possibly be! I will try and add a picture later this eveniing.
Regards Dan
If it was over water it might be a Noctule (there was 2 over Dorman's Pool this evening). Hopefully the local bat expert (Ian Bond) will see this and comment
Hi Jamie
There is a pond near where i saw it but there is a large lawn between were I saw it and the pond itself! Hopeully the picture might be more helpful!
Regards Dan
Anyone with any further ideas please?
Hi Dan
Hard to tell for sure from that angle but the long narrow wings suggest Noctule. Flying during the day is very unusual but not unheard of by any means. Ian Forrest took a picture of what was probably a Noctule behaving very strangely during the day at Billingham Beck last year. At this time of year bats are at their lowest ebb, having just emerged from hibernation and this one might have been starving.
You mentioned that you had captured it; I assume that it was in distress and in need of assistance or you meant captured it on film (all other forms of bat capture being strictly illegal). If you did mean caught in the hand and you need any help with its recovery it would be advisable to ring the national bat helpline on 0845 1300 228.
Regards
Ian
Hi Ian
Yes sorry I meant capture on film, which of course it been illegal to literally capture bats!
Jamie did mention that it could be noctule, So I was hoping that you would reply to the post because he said you were the bat expert! So thanks for your time much appreciated!
Regards Dan
Hi Dan
I'm not much of a bat expert I'm afraid. I've had a closer look at it and Im pretty sure its long eared, which is about as different from a Noctule as you can get. The reason I say that is that looking at the head I reckon I can make out the bulging rear of the conch, the outer part of the ear, which says long eared. The ears don't quite look long enough but I probably can't make out the tips very well. The only other option would be Natterer's but I don't think the ears would be that prominent from that angle. Also forget my comments about the narrow wings. Looking at the furthermost wing its actually quite broad. Also looking at where its flying it seems quite cluttered. Noctule would tend not to fly in such places (although Ian Forrest's did last year). Noctules normally have blacker wings and brighter, coppery fur but not always so that isn't definitive by any means. What is interesting if it is Long eared is that Long eared are about the most nocturnal of bats, only coming out when its really dark whereas Noctule regularly fly while its still light. Even so I think I can say its definitely not Noctule.
If you don't mind I will send you photo round the bat group for comments. It should cause quite a bit of debate though I'm pretty sure no-one would be able to give you a definitive answer so unfortunately i don't think we will be able to count it as a record. Nevertheless you did really well just to get a picture.
By the way, you didn't say where you saw it. Wherever it was I would bet good money that it would be a new record if it could definitely be proved to be long eared.
cheers
Ian
Hi Ian
That sounds quite exciting, It was at Newham Hall Just off the stokesly Road, just past the Gables pub in Coulby Newham! I would very much appreciate you using my photo in whatever way you see fit!
Keep us updated!
Regards Dan
Hi Dan
I've sent the photo round the bat groups and recieved a few replies. Someone tried to do something clever with it on a computer to try and get a better look at it but the picture was highly compressed and came out blocky. As I suspected no-one would give a definite ID. Some pointed out that the trees in the background appear to be well in leaf on 1st April and wondering if there wasn't a connection somehow :) I'm thinking that if it was an April fool then you have caught me out twice already and would probably have pointed that out by now.
However at the risk of showing myself up a third time :) I don't suppose you could e-mail me the original photo could you. That way we might be able to get a positive ID. Whatever it is will almost certainly be a significant record in that location. My e-mail address is ian.bond105@ntlworld.com
cheers
Ian
Hi Ian
I can assure you that it was in no way whatsoever an april fools joke! I will e mail you the original right away! , I was not very steady taking the picture so that is probably the reason that it will be blotchy! Also the picture was taken on the 31st! although it would of been an excellent april fools! but sadly it was not!
Regards Dan
There was a Noctule Bat flying around over the scrape in front of the Wildlife Watchpoint today at about 13:30-ish.
Hi Toby
In 2007 a group of TBC members helped me stake out Saltholme & surrounding area for bats. We only got two, or possibly three, Noctule,which I understand is pretty typical for Saltholme these days. I wasn't expecting any of the small flutteries as it isn't particularly suitable habitat and probably isn't well linked to areas that are. Daubenton's were an obvious possibility though we didn't get them either although they could easily have got under the radar.
Russell McAndrew tells me that in days gone by there were large numbers of Noctule on the Tees Marshes and I had expected more than 2 or 3 as I have watched up to seven Noctule heading down Greatham Creek in that direction.
Saltholme should still be excellent for Noctule as its all water and cows and Noctule can travel miles to get to decent feeding habitat. I assume that Noctule populations have crashed some time in recent decades but with all that potential feeding habitat I would expect that they would have picked up year on year. Its a bit of a mystery why there are so few Noctule at Saltholme now; possibly the crash was recent and they are just recovering from their nadir. It would be worth running a count across the area perhaps every 2-3 years to see how numbers are doing.
cheers
Ian
Just an update on Dan's picture of a bat (likely Long eared in my opinion) at Newham Hall. Contrary to what I said early (I seem to be contradicting myself a lot) it wouldn't be a new species for Middlesbrough. I've re-read the list of records that Tony Wardhaugh sent me and a Long eared roost was recorded in the loft of the workshop there between 1986-1990 with up to 24 bats.
It would be good to check if they are still there but it might have to wait until another year as we've got a pretty full calendar of bat activities in Cleveland booked for this year. (Incidentally if anyone is interested in taking part in this years programme of bat events drop me an e-mail and I will send you the list)
cheers
Ian
Well I didnt know that! We certainly have swallows nesting in the workshop! I will keep a eye for bats roosting in there! Thanks for the update Ian
Regards Dan