Surrey Bat Group

News

Latest Newsletter now on-line
Includes an update on White Nose Syndrome and a report of the 2009/2010 Hibernation Season. Click here to view.

Barbastelle Event - a rare opportunity!
Bob Cornes is arranging to take us to see some barbastelles in Cambridgeshire in May or June.
Chris Vine (Cambridgeshire Bat Group), will show a group of us around the roost site, after which we hope to detect and see the bats fly past. Some mist netting may be undertaken by Bob, too.
If sufficient Surrey members are interested, a date will be arranged. Although it is a long way to go, it's not a chance to miss, and some car sharing can be sorted. If you are interested please let Derek Smith know.

Acoustic Bat Survey and Sound Analysis Course
We've just received details another West Country specialist course aimed at professional ecologists.  A five day course based at the NT Piles Hill Field Centre will introduce methodologies and techniques for using bat detection equipment. Click here for more details.

White-nose Syndrome confirmed in France
There has been a confirmed diagnosis of the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome on a bat (Myotis myotis) hibernating near Périgueux in France  (Puechmaille et al. 2010 Feb, Emerging Infectious Diseases).   The affected bat was found hibernating in March 2009.  This bat was not underweight, unlike the infected bats in the US, and was released after examination. (The full report is available at  www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/2/pdfs/09-1391.pdf).   Bats with fungal growths on the muzzle have been reported in parts of Europe (including the Netherlands and Germany) since the 1980s, but these have not been associated with mass mortalities. To date there has not been a confirmed diagnosis of WNS or the associated fungus in the UK.  BCT urges  bat workers and cavers in the UK to be vigilant for signs of the disease, take precautionary measures against its spread and to report any suspect cases (see guidance in the link below).  

BCT thanks all hibernation surveyors who have completed WNS surveillance forms following annual checks.  Negative reports of the disease are as important as suspect cases in terms of UK surveillance.  Therefore please do continue to send these in.   

For more information on white nose-syndrome, including the UK guidelines and surveillance report form, go to http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/about_bats-white-nose_syndrome-586.html.

Bat Detector Articles
The Bat Detector is the quarterly magazine received by all members of the Surrey Bat Group. Click on a link below to get a flavour of the groups activities. Whether a member or not why not come along to one of our events and see the group in action - all are welcome.

     September 2009 - The Bechstein's Bat Project

    June 2009 - Bring on the Brandt's

     December 2008 - Bat Box Checks

British Bats by John Altringham
If there's a single book on British bats that you should have, it's this one! It has been out of print for several years, and secondhand copies have been fetching hundreds of pounds.
Collins is now producing volumes 1 (Butterflies) to 98 (Bumblebees) of
the New Naturalist series as Print on Demand volumes, and we are delighted to hear this includes volume 93 - British Bats by John Altringham.
They are bespoke hardbacks printed in colour and retail at about £50.
Order via Collins New Naturalist website, www.newnaturalists.com.

Brandt's  bats in Surrey
We have trapped several Brandt's bats at two sites during this year's BCT Bechstein's survey. This is the first time the Group has positively identified this species in Surrey as it can be easily confused with the whiskered bat.

Want to be a Bat Carer?
A number of our members are involved with the rescue of grounded or injured bats, but few are able to undertake the work of rehabilitating them.
Those of you who attended Amanda Millar's recent talk on her bat hospital work will probably have an idea of what is involved. If you would like to help the group as a bat carer, please get in touch with Ross or Lynn to find out more.

Update to Survey Criteria for Planning Applications
The current planning framework with reference to bats has been updated to reflect the latest ALGE and BCT guidelines. Click here for details.

Web-based Bulletin Board
There are some very interesting discussions on the bat bulletin board at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ukbats/
It has been set up specifically for bat workers and bat groups. Do have a look and register if you would like to contribute.