Linacre WeBS Walk - November 2012

This month's WeBS walk was carried out by 7 members of the Chesterfield RSPB Group and my nephew, Luke (many thanks to everyone who attended and especially to Mandy for writing everything down). Waterbird numbers were average for the time of year, but another Kingfisher sighting was very nice. All the usual woodland birds were recorded.

 Numbers as follows: Mallard (55), Mandarin Duck (c.30), Coot (6), Moorhen (4), Tufted Duck (12), Great-crested Grebe (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (1), Cormorant (2) Kingfisher (1) and Black-headed Gull (15).

As well as the WeBS walk, we also checked and cleaned out the last few nestboxes in time for next year's breeding season. A lovely surprise find of a hibernating bat in one of the boxes was very good. I can't identify the species, but I've sent this photo off to the Derbyshire Mammal Group, so hopefully they'll be able to let me know what it is.

Brown Long-eared Bat

 

UPDATE: I've just received an email from Steve at the Derbyshire Bat Conservation Trust who identified the bat as a Brown Long-eared Bat - a first for me and possibly Linacre too!!