(from Norwich Nuthatches Wildlife Explorers Group assistant leader Melanie Beck)
The Norwich Nuthatches gathered at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen on a lovely September evening. It was too early to start our bat walk so we made flying bats and tried to make as many words from the letters in the phrase ‘Nocturnal Flying Bats’ as we could. It’s quite a challenge – try it for yourself! As the light began to fade we headed outside and saw geese flying overhead in their famous ‘V’ formation. Site manager Tim Strudwick told us to look at the roof of the workshop where soprano pipistrelle bats had started to appear from their roost. One by one they flew out, sometimes missing our heads by centimetres, until we had counted 116 bats! It was quite a sight.
Armed with our bat detectors and torches we headed out on our walk. Tim said that as it was a mild night it wasn’t the best night for bats to feed as it meant there weren’t so many insects about. We changed the frequency of our bat detectors as we reached the meadow and found there were noctule bats about too. Tim explained that different bats make slightly different noises and at different pitches. We changed the frequency again and could pick up dark bush crickets – so bat detectors aren’t just for detecting bats! We carried on walking and arrived at the riverbank as it grew dark. We had hoped to pick up the sound of Daubenton’s bats there as they like to fly over water but as it was quite late in the year for them, we weren’t so lucky.
Tim set us a challenge as we headed back – to find glow worms. The best time to see them is during June and July so we were lucky to see some although some had a brighter glow than others. Tim even managed to pick up one of the beetles so we could take a closer look. Some of the children were surprised to find that it wasn’t a worm at all but a beetle about 15 mm long. The children then had lots of questions for Tim: Do both the male and female glow? No, only the female. Why does she glow? To attract a mate. How does she glow? By mixing chemicals they have on their tails.
We arrived back at reception via the moth trap we had put out earlier in the day. Only a few moths could be seen as it was still a bit early to catch many. At reception it was time for a cup of hot chocolate to end the evening while we looked at some of the moths caught in the trap the night before.
It was a great night seeing what creatures are out and about as we are getting ready for bed. Have you ever looked in your garden at night? Why not try it for yourself – you might be surprised what lives there!
Melanie