Bedfordshire Bat Group

Surveys

rangers

Contact Details
Priory Country Park
Barkers Lane
Bedford MK41 9SH Tel : 01234 21118prioryrangers@bedford.gov.uk

Location

View a map
Surveys
Danny's details are in the newsletter or e mail him at batsinbeds@fsmail.net
Walks
Contact Danny or the Priory Rangers

In 2009 a number of beautiful wood carvings were made for Priory

priory green man

Bat Box Project
In 2008 we worked with the rangers to locate bat boxes which had been installed 20 years ago. Since then they have been working on a bat box project .Members of the Queen's Park Junior Rangers built Kent bat boxes . Half of these were put up in Priory Country Park.

junior rangers

Click here for more photos by Paul Wheatley

The bat group's tame carpenter Mike Woodfield built 10 of another design

Ibat boxes

In 2009 we monitored fat box usage in order to investigate if the bats have a preference . They did much preferring Kent Bat Boxes. At one point a single box held five pips

5 pips in a box
(c) Daniel Fellman 2009 More details of the bat box project
Boxes, other than the Kent boxes can only be checked by a licensed bat worker

For more information about Priory Country Park
Read Danny's article from the January 2009 newsletter
Visit the Priory Country Park Rangers website

 

 

 

 

 

 

Priory Country Park Bedford

priory sunset
This is a major spin off from the 2007 Count Bat Project when we met Rangers John and Danny . Since then we have been working closely with them to introduce a whole range of bat activities to Priory Country Park.

Photograph Jude Hirstwood


A pleasant stroll around water bodies & woodland with bat detectors, while keeping a record of bat activity. A great way to get fresh air in the dark, learn more and see the bats in action. Comfy walking shoes and a torch are recommended. We provide bat detectors. Surveys are open to non members, We're always on the look out for more pair of eyes and ears.
suitable for those with limited mobility .

In 2008 we helped with four very popular walks there. We had excellent views of Noctules Daubenton's and common and soprano pipistrelles.. In addition we started a major bat box project in the park. More (PDF)

In 2009

 

We were told by a member of the public about a soprano pipistrelle roost in the park..We are monitoring this as well as a nearby stretch of water for Daubenton's for the Bat Conservation Trust's National Bat Monitoring Project

 

In May 2010 Danny made two interesting recordings. One is definitely a Nathusius Pipistrelle and the other a pobable Leisler's.

 

nathusius pipistrelle

We will also continue our hunt for the Nathusius pipistrelles which were recorded at Priory Country Park in Autumn 2007, but which evaded us in 2008.and 2009

Photo of Nathusius by Nick Tribe Leicestershire Bat Group

 

In May 2010 we hit gold dust Danny succeeded in getting a definite recording of a Nathusius pipistrelle flying over the finger lakes. He has also got a recording of a probable Leisler's bat.

 

 

 

Dates and Times for 2010
Bat surveys

 

survey

In 2010, as well as the walks, we are arranging some surveys as part of BCT's National Bat Monitoring Programme . This is open to non members but it is worth booking a place to ensure there are enough detectors to go round .

We're always on the look out for more pair of eyes and ears.No specialised equipment or previous experience is needed. You don't need to be a world authority on bat biology. You'll quickly develop the skills needed and you'd help us to learn more about Bedfordshire's bats

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Date Survey

Wed May 19th

 Roost count
Wed June 2nd Roost count
Wed June 16th Roost count
Wed June 30th Roost count
Wed Aug 4th NBMP Waterways
Thu Aug 19th NBMP Waterways
Wed Sep 1st NBMP Nathusius survey
Wed Sep 15h NBMP Nathusius survey
   

Bat walks

walk
The Priory Rangers are organising another five walks this year. To make sure we have enough detectors to go round you will need to book . Numbers are limited to twenty

 

Date of walk

Start time

Fri 28th May
9pm
tue 15th Jun
9pm
Tue 15th Jul
9pm
Thu 12th Aug
8.30pm
Tue 31st Aug
7.30pm

 

Canoes and Bats

canoeing

 

In 2009 the Priory Rangers and the Kempston Outdoor centre , aided and abetted by the bat group introduced the concept of a "canoe bat walk" to Bedford More are these are planned for 2010, though we have yet to confirm dates . They have been able to get a grant for these walks through the Harpur Trust. The Bat Conservation Trust also gave us a small grant. All these events are currently fully booked.
Read Danny's report on Bats and Boats

 

 

Bat Box Project

Danny is monitoring the bat boxes in the park in his spare time (sic) see side bar for more . You can read a summary of his work to date here

 

National Bat Monitoring Project

 

Danny is monitoring a roost in Priory Country Park . A recent count gave us 180 bats.

 

 

This page was last updated| Julyy 2010 (c) Bedfordshire Bat Group 2009