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Bat-spedition

I had missed the last few bat surveys locally due to work, so when I saw there was one at Woodwalton Fen, I decided to take a trip east.


In the past, I'd been to Wicken Fen, but not to Woodwalton and I would like to revisit it in daylight.

It's part of the Great Fen Project that I had previously celebrated in film.


The survey was led by Henry (of dormouse fame) and there were two other volunteers (one who attended the dormouse hunt I took part in last year). I arrived first and wasn't sure if I was in the right place. Never mind, I could just explore on my own. Had a bat detector and a torch.


But the first thing I came across was the sound of a load of beached fish flapping around out of water.

That is actually the sound of swans eating. Took me a while to realise.


At that point, I heard another car arrive and went to meet the other two volunteers.


The survey was the same format as Pitsford: walk a prescribed route with three-minute stops at various locations. We heard common and soprano pipistrelles (and did see pips flying) as well as noctules and barbastelles. We heard a lot of social calls as well as echo-location for hunting.


Two of the locations were hides. One looked out over a pretty pond with an island. Henry says you see bitterns and otters there.


All the way round, we could hear crickets calling - and Henry showed us one laying her eggs on the bark of a willow. We saw a yellow underwing moth and heard chinese water deer calling. A pair of tawny owls called and responded. Pigeons spooked out of trees as we passed and small mammals rustled in the undergrowth. Tiger slugs crossed the path and a pair of orb spiders carried out their deadly romance.


I do love being out at night. I should do this more often.

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3 comentarios


maplekey4
06 sept 2023

What an interesting night out you had!! I just read about "Chinese water deer" on Wikipedia. So ... my burning question: why on earth were those fish flopping around ... on earth??

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maplekey4
06 sept 2023
Contestando a

Oh thank goodness. I did listen to the video ... so I get it now :-)

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