Bat Training
- Thread starter Big Jim
- Start date
ronaldjprice
New member
We (Me Patsy & Bom) arrived at the arranged lay-by ....late due to traffic (Apologies to all for keeping you waiting) :-[
We changed into our caving kit and joined the others gathered around Jim and Jess from the bat group, who gave us a chat about various bats and their habitat, conservation and bats in general, it was very interesting & very very cold.
Soon we hat split into smaller groups so that hopefully we would have less impact on the bats and off we went with Jess up hill to the opening of a mine near the top of the hill, the entrance was littered with a lot of rubbish mainly broken glass (DCA have it on their list of clean ups and are awaiting a fallen tree to be moved to allow it to be removed.)
Directly above the broken glass in a tiny hole in the roof was our first sighting of a bat, we all took turns at looking at it, but we could not get a proper look as it was well hidden and we was trying not to stab our feet with broken glass.
Onward we went and very soon we came upon our second bat, this time in full view and covered in sparkling condensation, we were amazed at how small they actually are and how they stick to the rock with tiny toes.
The bat was in the company of some cave dwelling moths.
Forward and again two more bats in good view, we went to the end of the passage to a rock fall where Dave Webb and myself went forward to the end of the level crossing a hole in the floor I would have liked to have liked to have thrown some string down and made a mental note to call again when the bats have gone equipped for exploration.
On the way back After bridging some lovely gour pools Dave decided to take some pictures and after positioning his Firefly and taking a few Jess joined in, satisfied with them we made our way out missing one of the bats totally a few more pics and we were out and heading back to the cars and the other two groups (late again!).
After retreating to the Miners Standard for beer
and coffee we all made off our separate ways.
It is amazing how many bats we must have passed in the past at shoulder height we decided that we must at some time, have knocked some off of cave walls and probably trampled them without realising.
I am sure that all those on the Bat Training trip will be much less likely to inadvertently harm bats in the future & will probably see much more on their caving trips than they had in the past I know I certainly will.
Many thanks to Jim & Jess for giving up their time for us & the bats.
Superb would recommend to all.
Ron
We changed into our caving kit and joined the others gathered around Jim and Jess from the bat group, who gave us a chat about various bats and their habitat, conservation and bats in general, it was very interesting & very very cold.
Soon we hat split into smaller groups so that hopefully we would have less impact on the bats and off we went with Jess up hill to the opening of a mine near the top of the hill, the entrance was littered with a lot of rubbish mainly broken glass (DCA have it on their list of clean ups and are awaiting a fallen tree to be moved to allow it to be removed.)
Directly above the broken glass in a tiny hole in the roof was our first sighting of a bat, we all took turns at looking at it, but we could not get a proper look as it was well hidden and we was trying not to stab our feet with broken glass.
Onward we went and very soon we came upon our second bat, this time in full view and covered in sparkling condensation, we were amazed at how small they actually are and how they stick to the rock with tiny toes.
The bat was in the company of some cave dwelling moths.
Forward and again two more bats in good view, we went to the end of the passage to a rock fall where Dave Webb and myself went forward to the end of the level crossing a hole in the floor I would have liked to have liked to have thrown some string down and made a mental note to call again when the bats have gone equipped for exploration.
On the way back After bridging some lovely gour pools Dave decided to take some pictures and after positioning his Firefly and taking a few Jess joined in, satisfied with them we made our way out missing one of the bats totally a few more pics and we were out and heading back to the cars and the other two groups (late again!).
After retreating to the Miners Standard for beer
and coffee we all made off our separate ways.It is amazing how many bats we must have passed in the past at shoulder height we decided that we must at some time, have knocked some off of cave walls and probably trampled them without realising.
I am sure that all those on the Bat Training trip will be much less likely to inadvertently harm bats in the future & will probably see much more on their caving trips than they had in the past I know I certainly will.
Many thanks to Jim & Jess for giving up their time for us & the bats.
Superb would recommend to all.
Ron
j4nny
Member
ronaldjprice said:We (Me Patsy & Bom) arrived at the arranged lay-by ....late due to traffic (Apologies to all for keeping you waiting) :-[
We changed into our caving kit and joined the others gathered around Jim and Jess from the bat group, who gave us a chat about various bats and their habitat, conservation and bats in general, it was very interesting & very very cold.
Soon we hat split into smaller groups so that hopefully we would have less impact on the bats and off we went with Jess up hill to the opening of a mine near the top of the hill, the entrance was littered with a lot of rubbish mainly broken glass (DCA have it on their list of clean ups and are awaiting a fallen tree to be moved to allow it to be removed.)
Directly above the broken glass in a tiny hole in the roof was our first sighting of a bat, we all took turns at looking at it, but we could not get a proper look as it was well hidden and we was trying not to stab our feet with broken glass.
Onward we went and very soon we came upon our second bat, this time in full view and covered in sparkling condensation, we were amazed at how small they actually are and how they stick to the rock with tiny toes.
The bat was in the company of some cave dwelling moths.
Forward and again two more bats in good view, we went to the end of the passage to a rock fall where Dave Webb and myself went forward to the end of the level crossing a hole in the floor I would have liked to have liked to have thrown some string down and made a mental note to call again when the bats have gone equipped for exploration.
On the way back After bridging some lovely gour pools Dave decided to take some pictures and after positioning his Firefly and taking a few Jess joined in, satisfied with them we made our way out missing one of the bats totally a few more pics and we were out and heading back to the cars and the other two groups (late again!).
After retreating to the Miners Standard for beer
It is amazing how many bats we must have passed in the past at shoulder height we decided that we must at some time, have knocked some off of cave walls and probably trampled them without realising.
I am sure that all those on the Bat Training trip will be much less likely to inadvertently harm bats in the future & will probably see much more on their caving trips than they had in the past I know I certainly will.
Many thanks to Jim & Jess for giving up their time for us & the bats.
Superb would recommend to all.
Ron
in addition to this write up that covers most aspects its great for novices and the more experienced caver, informative and fun. worth a visit -thanks to Jim and Jess for their time
Big Jim
Member
Thanks Ron and Jenny for the feedback. I'm glad you found it informative and more importantly enjoyable. Dont forget to send me any sightings (remember, droppings and piles of moth wings count).
Perhaps about time bat groups in other parts of the uk did the same judging from the reaction so far:-\. if anyone knows that they are id like to know.
I still have names on my waiting list but always room for a few more....
J
Perhaps about time bat groups in other parts of the uk did the same judging from the reaction so far:-\. if anyone knows that they are id like to know.
I still have names on my waiting list but always room for a few more....
J
B
Bouncing Bom
Guest
May I add my thanks To Jim and Jess, and also throughly recommend the trip. I had an excellant time and the bats were incredibly cute. I was amazing to be able to see them so close up, they are so easily missed but I will definitely be keeping my eyes open in the future.
Thanks also to Ron and Patsy for the lift and David For the pictures
Bom
Thanks also to Ron and Patsy for the lift and David For the pictures
Bom
J
jollyrambler
Guest
Thanks to Ron, Jenny and Bom for your comments. I'm glad the cold didn't put you off. Almost seemed a shame to go underground when most of Derbyshire was covered in a great, sparkling, white haw frost, but the bats behaved themselves and made an appearance for you (always good on a training day).
I'd also like to thank Dave on his snippets of mining history and the great photos. I'd have put a few of mine up, but frankly i've been put to shame.
Cheers again for an enjoyable Saturday in the Peak
Jess
I'd also like to thank Dave on his snippets of mining history and the great photos. I'd have put a few of mine up, but frankly i've been put to shame.
Cheers again for an enjoyable Saturday in the Peak
Jess
Big Jim
Member
A few more pics from last weekend.....
Everyone stood on the bridge below Goodluck Mine. (photo Dave Webb)
A Brandt's bat covered in condensation (photo Colin Knox)
J4nny having a nosie at a Brandt's (photo Colin Knox)
Me, J4nny and Dennis Jump confirming the ID of a Brandt's by examining the shape of its penis :-[(photo Colin KNox)
Thanks to Dave Webb and Colin (Steve) Knox for the excellent photo's.
Jim
Everyone stood on the bridge below Goodluck Mine. (photo Dave Webb)
A Brandt's bat covered in condensation (photo Colin Knox)
J4nny having a nosie at a Brandt's (photo Colin Knox)
Me, J4nny and Dennis Jump confirming the ID of a Brandt's by examining the shape of its penis :-[(photo Colin KNox)
Thanks to Dave Webb and Colin (Steve) Knox for the excellent photo's.
Jim
Big Jim
Member
And you think that I would break the law Sam? Luckily, I have one of those Natural England Licences that enables me to not only enter hibernation sites but also handle bats in said situation - something I only do with great discretion. In this case it was justified by need to confirm species id - the only real way to tell a brandts from a whiskered is by close examination. It was also done for educational purposes to give people with no experience of bats the chance to see one close up and look at its anatomy. The bat handled, whilst in a hibernation site, was not in a state of torpor. :halo:
Less of the lip anyway - you might not find a rope when you get the the bottom of titan :tease:
J
Less of the lip anyway - you might not find a rope when you get the the bottom of titan :tease:
J
J
jollyrambler
Guest
I hope everyone found yesterdays training session useful. Here are a couple of the photos taken.
The Group Part 1
The Group Part 2
Natterer's, up close and personal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34939742@N07/3244299242/
Close up of Whiskered bat with condensation
Whiskered bat with mites in its ear
Cheers
Jess
The Group Part 1
The Group Part 2
Natterer's, up close and personal
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34939742@N07/3244299242/
Close up of Whiskered bat with condensation
Whiskered bat with mites in its ear
Cheers
Jess
J
jollyrambler
Guest
Jim,
Can you get on the case and sort this pictures out for me so that they work while i'm away.
cheers
Jess
Can you get on the case and sort this pictures out for me so that they work while i'm away.
cheers
Jess
underground
Active member
Yesterday was superb - many thanks are due to Jim and Jess for their kmnowledgae and enthusiasm, and giving up a day of their weekend to talk bats - I certainly learned loads and will be on the lookout for my underground friends in the future
K
Keith L
Guest
I guess I must be one of DBCG?s target audience group, an active caver but pretty clueless about bats. I knew that they frequented caves and mines, but I?d never actually seen one underground, I didn?t know what I might inadvertently be doing that could harm them. So when Jim posted about the training day a quick PM was sent!
A chilly morning in Via Gellia and a small group assembled. After changing we were greeted with a basic introduction, and a handful of bat poo! I joined Jess?s group and we walked up to Growling Tor. Within feet of the entrance, in plain view on the roof of the mine, we came across our first bat. A whiskered bat, in deep torpor and covered in condensation. The next three we walked straight past, Jess stopped us and pointed them out, another group of three whiskered bats huddled in a group up in a fissure in the roof. That was it for Growling Tor, we searched the entire length of the levels, but no more bats.
We came out and walked along the Via Gellia road for a bit with a view to poking around in some of the levels right by the road, we were just coming out of the first one when we encountered the other group. I?m not sure where we went after that, we looked down a few levels, several more bats were seen.
I enjoyed it all, I?ll thoroughly recommend it to anybody who wants that basic introduction to the bats that we are likely to encounter underground. Jim explained the enlightened and practical approach of the DBCG, co-operation and education rather than rules and restrictions. I now know what to look for, I also know what to do so that I don?t disturb the bats. A lot of it is common sense, just leave them alone. A caver passing by wont be any problem, but look out for them so that you don?t accidently knock them off. If you do see one then leave it alone, don?t touch it, don?t get too close or linger as your body heat or the heat from your lamp might disturb it.
Thank you Jim and Jess, a very enlightening afternoon.
Keith
A chilly morning in Via Gellia and a small group assembled. After changing we were greeted with a basic introduction, and a handful of bat poo! I joined Jess?s group and we walked up to Growling Tor. Within feet of the entrance, in plain view on the roof of the mine, we came across our first bat. A whiskered bat, in deep torpor and covered in condensation. The next three we walked straight past, Jess stopped us and pointed them out, another group of three whiskered bats huddled in a group up in a fissure in the roof. That was it for Growling Tor, we searched the entire length of the levels, but no more bats.
We came out and walked along the Via Gellia road for a bit with a view to poking around in some of the levels right by the road, we were just coming out of the first one when we encountered the other group. I?m not sure where we went after that, we looked down a few levels, several more bats were seen.
I enjoyed it all, I?ll thoroughly recommend it to anybody who wants that basic introduction to the bats that we are likely to encounter underground. Jim explained the enlightened and practical approach of the DBCG, co-operation and education rather than rules and restrictions. I now know what to look for, I also know what to do so that I don?t disturb the bats. A lot of it is common sense, just leave them alone. A caver passing by wont be any problem, but look out for them so that you don?t accidently knock them off. If you do see one then leave it alone, don?t touch it, don?t get too close or linger as your body heat or the heat from your lamp might disturb it.
Thank you Jim and Jess, a very enlightening afternoon.
Keith
Peter Burgess
New member
The Surrey Bat Group do a similar thing for us. One thing that crossed my mind on a recent monitoring visit, if you have been exerting yourself in a cave and getting yourself warmed up, and then come to a section with bats in, hanging about near them is a bit like lighting a bonfire - not good! So if you are feeling a bit warm, have a break to cool down a bit before passing through the batty places so you don't radiate energy like an electric fire.