Cress marsh

Here is an email I have sent to Sian Niblo at NELC:

Hi Sian. I emailed you awhile back regarding Cress marsh and monitoring which bats might frequent the site. Well, I conducted a one and a half hour survey of the site on the 10th, from 7.30pm till 9pm.I monitored from the car park all the way to the hide, spending 30 minutes at the hide and then returning to the car park area. Grand total of bats and different species.....1 bat.I was at least hoping to hear Daubenton's bats over the lagoon where they hunt insects over the water. They begin to hibernate toward the end of September, so should be quite active at the moment building up reserves. Unfortunately, none. Rather depressingly, there were no Pipistrelles either, apart from a lone bat at the hedge line in front of the car park. This individual only remained for about 10 minutes before leaving the area. I suspect it headed off toward the farm area, where I would hope there would be far more. Three things I think are deterring them from Cress, noise and light pollution and the possibility that the electrical field generated by the pylons is disturbing them too. The nearby motorway is incredibly loud during the night, and the factory/compound lights are very bright white light. None of these things are favourable for bats. There is ample food, insects are plentiful and moths are abundant. I have recently conducted a survey at Ashby cum Fenby for the Bat Conservation trust, and counted 7 Pipistrelles in a 50 yard stretch alone. One positive note though, the site is alive with common toads. On the walk back from the hide, I was having to tread very carefully as there was a toad nearly every 10 feet of the path. Thanks, Nick Coulbeck