The North Wales Serotine Bat Project

An Investigation of Serotine (Eptesicus serotinus) Bat Populations in North Wales.

By Sam Dyer

2010

2011

April 2012

4 Detector Evenings & 6 COLD Trapping Nights Later…..

20th April 2012 = 17 Serotines 24th April 2012 = 21 Serotines (possibly 1 noctule)

Samantha

Simone

Discussion Points Following Spring Radio-tracking:

• Parous females caught and numbers of bats in the roost suggests a breeding colony!

• Insights into serotine behaviour during spring during cold weather.

• Usage of cliff roosts identified

• MORE QUESTIONS!

• A total of 34 different bat workers/volunteers, both local and from various other parts of the country have assisted with field work giving up 130 nights of their time this April, and hopefully all gaining personally from the experience.

Genetic and Stable Isotope Sampling – June 2012

9th June 2012 = 76 Serotines, 27 Noctules 5th Biggest Roost in UK, 100km North of Known Roost

August 2012

Scarlett

Sasha

Stephanie

Stephanie

Scarlett

Sasha

Discussion Points Following Summer Radio-tracking:

• Peak Emergence Count = 76 Serotines, 27 Noctules

• Peak Cliff Roost Emergence Count = 7 Serotines

• Lactant and post-lactant females caught suggested successful breeding in 2012

• Cliff Roost continued usage ….

• Far more insights into foraging and roosting behaviour gained in August than April!

• A total of 13 different bat workers/volunteers, both local and from various other parts of the country have assisted with field work giving up 42 nights of their time this August, and again hopefully they all gain personally from the experience.

WHATS NEXT???

Future Project Work

• Swarming Studies of Sites in the Dulas Valley

• Spring Cliff Emergence Surveys in the Dulas Valley

• Winter Cliff Hibernation Surveys in the Dulas Valley

• MSc. Habitat Suitability Modelling of North Wales for Serotine Bats

• Dietary Analysis

Dietary Analysis

• April =

– Brown Lacewing (Hemerobiidae)

– Leaf Beetle (Chrysomelidae)

– Psocoptera

• June =

– Lesser Water Boatman (Corixididae)

– Dung-fly (Scatophaga stercoraria)

• August =

– Dung Beetle (Aphodius rufipes)

Big Question…

‘What is true breeding distribution of serotine bats in North Wales?’

Thanks To:

• Clwyd Bat Group • South Lancs Bat Group • Gwynedd Bat Group • Merseyside Bat Group • Daniel Hargreaves • Eric Palmer • Dr. James Aegerter • Dr. Caro Moussey • Andy Harmer