{"id":961,"date":"2010-07-31T14:41:59","date_gmt":"2010-07-31T19:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/?p=961"},"modified":"2010-09-04T04:32:01","modified_gmt":"2010-09-04T09:32:01","slug":"greywell-31st-july-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/greywell-31st-july-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Greywell – 31st July 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

Graham Saunders led a bat walk at Greywell on Saturday 31st<\/sup> July. The evening started with visits to two Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust reserves. A few Marsh Helleborines were still in flower at Mapledurwell Fen and there were drifts of wetland plants such as Meadowsweet, Water Mint, Wild Angelica and Hemp-agrimony. Common Blue butterflies were roosting on long grass stems and an unfamiliar insect was identified as a juvenile Long-winged Conehead. The group then moved on to Greywell Moors, near the headwaters of the River Whitewater. Marsh Fern was abundant, and other sightings included Betony, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Bogbean, Marsh Lousewort and a young toad. Grey Herons flew in to roost in the treetops across the river. The cows which graze on the reserve took a great interest in the proceedings.<\/p>\n

As darkness fell, the group set off for the Basingstoke Canal. The first bat sighting was a Serotine over the village street. This is a relatively large bat which roosts in buildings. Greywell Tunnel is an important bat hibernating site. The bat detector indicated that a number of bats were flying close to the tunnel entrance, including a possible Whiskered or Brandt’s Bat. Along the tow-path, Daubenton’s and Pipistrelle bats were detected, with a Noctule over an adjoining field. A young Tawny Owl was being fed by a parent in a tall canal-side oak. The bat detector picked up the chirps of crickets as well as the clicks of bats. At the limit of navigation in the canal is a big turning circle. Torches were directed across the open water here and the bats were watched as they hunted above the canal.<\/p>\n