Welcome to the events page
Gibside Bat Survey Dates 2025
Come and join Northumberland Bat Group at this amazing National Trust managed location. The grounds and buildings are a haven for bats. No experience required, but a bonus if you have surveyed before. Tina, Tim or another experienced bat surveyor will be on hand to explain what you have to do and where you have to stand for each survey.
The National Trust at Gibside will supply bat detectors to use for these surveys, but if you have your own torch please bring it along. Remember to wear warm clothes and insect repellent. Surveys start about 30 minutes before sunset and will continue for 1 – 2 hours after sun set. Exact timings will depend on the time of year, survey type and weather.
Meeting times are in the information below, and the surveys carry on until it gets dark, which can be late at the end of May and in June. The meeting location is: Gisbide, in the main car park, at NZ169581, entrance at ///groom.invest.pizza
There is no need to let Tina know that you are coming along as the surveys will take place regardless of the number of people that turn up. Also worth noting, if it is pouring with rain, then that night’s survey will be cancelled.
Emergence Surveys
Thursday 1st May – Chapel. Meet in car park at 8.30pm.
Tuesday 13th May – Hall. Meet in car park at 8.30pm.
Tuesday 20th May – Garden Cottage. Meet in car park at 8.45pm.
National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) Roost count surveys
Tuesday 3rd June – Stables. Meet in car park at 8:30pm.
Thursday 26th June – Stables. Meet in car park at 8:30pm.
NBMP Field survey
Thursday 10th July Meet in car park at 8:00pm.
Thursday 24th July Meet in car park at 8:00pm.
NBMP Waterway survey
Thursday 7th August Meet in car park at 7:45pm.
Thursday 21st August Meet in car park at 7:00pm.
Winter Talks 2025
Tuesday 8th April at Prudhoe Riverside Park @7pm.
Prior to the AGM section which will last about 20 minutes, we will provide a talk on different types of bat detector and how to use them and for what types of survey. As a group, we have quite a range of bat detectors, so enabling people to use them, will increase our data collection for bat presence and activity across the county.
No need to sign up, just come on the day. The venue is the little café at Prudhoe riverside. Click Here for directions.
21st January 2025 @7pm – Audiomoth Research – results from recording bats in the Pennines.
Please note the date amendment – I sent the wrong date out in the newsletter – the 21st is correct!
Come and hear a presentation about the species of bats that one of our members has been recording up in the Pennines. He has been using the Audiomoth detectors, and for such an apparently bleak area, found quite a range of bats too.
19th March 2025 @7pm – Foraging Fidelity and Genetic Connections: Insights into Natterer’s Bats, results from 3 years of field work in Northern England
About the talk: During her PhD fieldwork, Simone Mordue investigated how Natterer’s bats (Myotis nattereri) use the landscape—where they forage, how loyal they are to specific sites, and how their populations remain connected despite habitat fragmentation. Using radio-tracking over three years, she found that individual bats repeatedly return to the same foraging areas, but interestingly, not all bats prefer the same habitats. Some favoured woodland edges, while others hunted over meadows or along waterways, showing distinct individual specialisation in habitat use. Genetic analysis revealed that while summer roosting groups are spatially distinct, gene flow occurs through swarming sites, helping to maintain genetic diversity. Her research highlights the importance of protecting a network of diverse habitats to support the long-term survival of Natterer’s bats.
No need to sign up, just turn up on the night.The venue will be the café, at the Prudhoe Riverside Park Lots of free parking, and a railway station next door, so you can use public transport too.
NBNP Hibernation Surveys 2025
Saturday 22nd February 2025
Tina is planning an NBMP hibernation survey of the adits at Nenthead on Sat 22nd Feb.
We have been surveying the same sites since 2014 and are really starting to build up a picture of how the bats are using these sites.
You will need wellies, old warm clothes that you dont mind getting dirty, torches with lots of spare batteries and maybe also a change of boots/socks, the adits are all wet. Bring lunch, snacks and a flask, it will be cold!
If you have a caving helmet/hard hat that you are able to bring along that would be great, Tina has a few to lend out if not.
If you are interested in/able to come along please email Tina on malinka1999@btinternet.com. As ever, places are on a first come first served basis. Once signed up you will be given the meeting point time and reference.
We are entering known hibernacula, and to comply with IUCN and BCT guidelines :
All surveyors should have had a lateral flow test with a negative result within 48 hours before the survey (this is also essential for mitigating risks to bats). If a member of the survey team has COVID-type symptoms then they should not participate until they have had a PCR test with a negative result. Test kits are less than £2 can can be pre-ordered and picked up from Boots chemist (other chemists are available!).
FFP2 masks or better are a requirement when within hibernacula. If you don’t have a mask then Tina can provide a mask if you need one.
One last thing, for insurance purposes you need to be a member of Northumberland Bat Group to join these surveys, no worries if you are not, it is easy and free to join. Just go to the Contact Us page and sign up to the mailing list.