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2010
The take up of nestboxes this year
has been remarkeable, with 50 of the 53 small boxes at New England site (Highley) being used, 44 of which were successful
and 352 young were raised, compared with 306 the previous year. One pair of Stock Doves nested in one of the 3 'Owl'
boxes, raising 2 young. 3 new large nestboxes, suitable for Mandarin Duck have been put up along the stream following numerous
sightings of this species during the last few years. No nesting attempt was made.
One highlight this year was a
successful breeding of Pied Flycatcher in a nestbox on the main Severn Valley Country Park, the first time this species has
bred locally. A clutch of 7 eggs was laid of which 6 hatched and young fledged.
Kestrels also bred in a nestbox on the
park, raising 4 young.
BATS
Dave
Fulton and Tony Crossman are now licenced as Voluntary Bat Wardens and have licences from Natural England to visit roosts.
In 2010, Dave also registered as a 'Bat Carer'
with the Bat Conservation Trust. This means that he may be asked to rescue any local bats in distress and look after them
until they are well enough to release back into the wild.
This year has been particularly busy with several baby bats
found abandoned, and some young and adults becoming victims of cat attacks.
This group of Common Pipistrelle bats
were rescued at a few days old. 4 responded well to feeding and treatment, currently being given flying lessons before release.
Sadly, one baby never grew any fur, his future is still undecided.
Stop Press The baby did grow back
his fur. Out of the 7 bats originally rescued, 5 have now been returned to the wild. The remaining 2 are still in care, having
not been deemed fit enough to release before the onset of the cold winter weather. It is planned to release the remaining
2 in the spring of 2011.
Some work we have been involved in recently was to assess a Noctule roost to determine the ratio of breeding
females within. A few pictures below. Don't let the teeth put you off, these are some of the larger bats present
in the UK, they are nice really.
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| Noctule Bat, don't worry, its just a yawn! |
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| Told you he was nice, he's smiling now. |
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| Brown Long Eared Bats |
A Brown Long Eared Bat rescued early November 2009 from a site in Bridgnorth. A juvenile male, he chose his winter
roost on a beam in someones lounge.
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